Working Paper: NBER ID: w21038
Authors: James P. Ziliak
Abstract: In this chapter I provide a brief history of the TANF program, including changes made as part of the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act. I then present a variety of program statistics, including trends in aggregate and state-level caseloads and spending, along with changes in the demographic composition of the program, especially the shift from adult with child cases to child-only cases. I also highlight the changing composition of spending on the program from cash assistance to in-kind assistance, and the challenges faced in documenting total (cash + in-kind) caseloads and spending. I follow this with a discussion of the behavioral issues surrounding TANF, including the four program goals and possible modifications as part of the 2014 reauthorization legislation, and then I provide a systematic review of the research evidence on whether those goals have been met.
Keywords: TANF; welfare reform; family assistance; dependency reduction
JEL Codes: H53; I3; J1; J13; J22; J24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| TANF participation (H53) | increased employment (J68) |
| TANF participation (H53) | reduced reliance on welfare (I38) |
| TANF program funding structure (H53) | decreased benefits for families (I38) |
| TANF participation (H53) | changes in demographic composition (J11) |
| shift from adult-with-child cases to child-only cases (J13) | program effectiveness (C52) |