The effect of welfare on the family size of single female household heads.

Abstract

"The effect of welfare on family size is estimated by means of an ordered probit analysis on single female household heads. A multiyear cross-sectional pooled data set derived from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey over the period 1979 to 1990 is analyzed. Behavioral impacts from a range of economic variables are consistent in sign with theoretical predictions, and are of reasonable magnitudes. A $1,000 increase in the amount of welfare per child can be expected to increase family size by 6.7 percent for single female-headed households."