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Isolating the Family Cap Effect on Fertility Behavior: Evidence From New Jersey's Family Development Program Experiment

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  • Michael J. Camasso

Abstract

This study examines the unbundled impacts of a family cap policy and enhanced JOBS program on the fertility of 2100 women on welfare who were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups as part of New Jersey's welfare reform program. Data were collected quarterly from December 1992 through March 1997 on births, abortions, contraceptive pill use, and contraceptive sterilizations from welfare and Medicaid claim files. Results indicate that the family cap lowered births and increased abortions and contraception use but only for women who were short‐time welfare users. Enhanced JOBS exerted an independent effect on fertility of more chronic recipients. (JEL I38)

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  • Michael J. Camasso, 2004. "Isolating the Family Cap Effect on Fertility Behavior: Evidence From New Jersey's Family Development Program Experiment," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 22(4), pages 453-467, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:22:y:2004:i:4:p:453-467
    DOI: 10.1093/cep/byh034
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    Cited by:

    1. Jagannathan, Radha & Camasso, Michael J., 2011. "Message and price components of Family Caps: Experimental evidence from New Jersey," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 292-302, August.
    2. Ho-Po Crystal Wong, 2015. "The Quantity and Quality Adjustment of Births when Having More is Not Subsidized: the Effect of the TANF Family Cap on Fertility and Birth Weight," Working Papers 15-04, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    3. Janna Bergsvik & Agnes Fauske & Rannveig K. Hart, 2020. "Effects of policy on fertility. A systematic review of (quasi)experiments," Discussion Papers 922, Statistics Norway, Research Department.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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