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Immigration and the Evolving American Welfare State: Examining Policies in the U.S. States

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  • Rodney E. Hero
  • Robert R. Preuhs

Abstract

The inclusion of racial/ethnic minorities is often considered an important factor leading to a relatively limited American welfare system. However, given the federal nature of welfare eligibility rules and the states' role in determining benefit levels, few studies explicitly link questions of inclusion and benefit levels when explaining the evolution of American welfare policy. This study examines the relationship between inclusion and benefit levels by analyzing state policies related to the welfare reforms of 1996 which allowed states to decide if recent immigrants would be included in welfare benefits, and subsequently the extent to which this decision affected overall benefit levels offered by states under TANF. The results suggest that states' decisions regarding inclusion subsequently affect benefit levels, with the direction of these relationships most closely reflecting the erosion model's prediction of broader eligibility associated with lower benefit levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodney E. Hero & Robert R. Preuhs, 2007. "Immigration and the Evolving American Welfare State: Examining Policies in the U.S. States," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(3), pages 498-517, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:51:y:2007:i:3:p:498-517
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5907.2007.00264.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. George J. Borjas & Lynette Hilton, 1996. "Immigration and the Welfare State: Immigrant Participation in Means-Tested Entitlement Programs," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 111(2), pages 575-604.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carlos Grad�n & Coral Del R�o & Olga Alonso-Villar, 2015. "Occupational Segregation by Race and Ethnicity in the United States: Differences Across States," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(10), pages 1621-1638, October.
    2. Alexandre Padilla & Nicolás Cachanosky, 2018. "The Grecian horse: does immigration lead to the deterioration of American institutions?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 174(3), pages 351-405, March.
    3. repec:jpe:journl:1654 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Kehrberg Jason, 2020. "Authoritarianism, Prejudice, and Support for Welfare Chauvinism in the United States," Statistics, Politics and Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 11(2), pages 195-212, December.
    5. Juan Manuel Pedroza & Elena Losada, 2025. "It’s About Time: Parent’s Direct Care for Children in Hispanic Noncitizen Households Across State Immigration Policy Contexts," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 44(1), pages 1-28, February.

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