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Welfare Policy, Language Group, and the Duration of Lone Motherhood Spells

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  • Martin Dooley
  • Ross Finnie

Abstract

We use a large sample of linked income tax records to estimate a competing risk model of the likelihood of an exit from lone motherhood to either a marital or common-law union. We find that recent Canadian welfare policy reforms have had only a small impact at most on the duration of lone motherhood spells. Lone mothers in Francophone Quebec and in the rest of Canada exit to different states, but spend similar lengths of time as single parents. Finally, the economic consequences of an exit from lone motherhood are similar for exits to marital and to common-law unions.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Dooley & Ross Finnie, 2008. "Welfare Policy, Language Group, and the Duration of Lone Motherhood Spells," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 34(1), pages 37-64, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpp:issued:v:34:y:2008:i:1:p:37-64
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Moffitt, 1994. "Welfare Effects on Female Headship with Area Effects," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 29(2), pages 621-636.
    2. Zyblock, Miles & Picot, Garnett & Pyper, Wendy, 1999. "Why Do Children Move into and out of Low Income: Changing Labour Market Conditions or Marriage and Divorce," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 1999132e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    3. Martin D. Dooley, 1999. "The Evolution of Welfare Participation Among Canadian Lone Mothers From 1973-1991," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 32(3), pages 589-612, May.
    4. Marianne Bitler & Jonah Gelbach & Hilary Hoynes & Madeline Zavodny, 2004. "The impact of welfare reform on marriage and divorce," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 41(2), pages 213-236, May.
    5. Ham, John C & Rea, Samuel A, Jr, 1987. "Unemployment Insurance and Male Unemployment Duration in Canada," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 5(3), pages 325-353, July.
    6. John Fitzgerald & David Ribar, 2004. "Welfare reform and female headship," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 41(2), pages 189-212, May.
    7. Marianne Bitler & Jonah Gelbach & Hilary Hoynes & Madeline Zavodny, 2004. "The impact of welfare reform on marriage and divorce," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 41(2), pages 213-236, May.
    8. Gunderson, Morley & Melino, Angelo, 1990. "The Effects of Public Policy on Strike Duration," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 8(3), pages 295-316, July.
    9. Ross Finnie & Arthur Sweetman, 2003. "Poverty dynamics: empirical evidence for Canada," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 36(2), pages 291-325, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anindya Sen & Hideki Ariizumi, 2013. "Teen families, welfare transfers, and the minimum wage: evidence from Canada," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(1), pages 338-360, February.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure

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