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How Do the US and Canadian Social Safety Nets Compare for Women and Children?

In: Small Differences II: Public Policies in Canada and the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Hilary W. Hoynes
  • Mark Stabile

Abstract

The past 25 years has seen substantial change in the social safety nets for families with children in the US and Canada. Both countries have moved away from cash welfare but the US has done so relying more exclusively on inwork benefits with work requirements. This paper examines this evolution across the two countries and examines the effects on employment and poverty. In particular, we focus on the two largest programs over this period: the U.S. EITC and the Canadian NCB/CCTB. In light of these policy changes, we examine trends in employment and poverty of the most affected families -- single mothers with less than a college degree -- across the two countries. We find that employment improved substantially in both countries, absolutely and relative to a control group of single women without children. The cross-country differences in relative trends are mainly explained by differences in the labor market conditions. Poverty rates for single mothers also declined in both countries with more of the decline coming through market income in the U.S. and benefit income in Canada.
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Suggested Citation

  • Hilary W. Hoynes & Mark Stabile, 2016. "How Do the US and Canadian Social Safety Nets Compare for Women and Children?," NBER Chapters, in: Small Differences II: Public Policies in Canada and the United States, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberch:13970
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    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Chris Riddell, 2020. "Welfare to work and subjective well‐being: Evidence from a randomized control trial," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(1), pages 83-107, February.
    3. David Albouy & Alex Chernoff & Chandler Lutz & Casey Warman, 2019. "Local Labor Markets in Canada and the United States," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 37(S2), pages 533-594.
    4. Thomas Biegert & David Brady & Lena Hipp, 2022. "Cross-National Variation in the Relationship between Welfare Generosity and Single Mother Employment," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 702(1), pages 37-54, July.
    5. Biegert, Thomas & Brady, David & Hipp, Lena, 2022. "Cross-National Variation in the Relationship between Welfare Generosity and Single Mother Employment," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 702(1), pages 37-54.
    6. Kesselman, Jonathan & Petit, Gillian, 2020. "Earnings Supplementation for British Columbia: Pros, Cons, and Structure," MPRA Paper 105931, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Marie Connolly & Miles Corak & Catherine Haeck, 2019. "Intergenerational Mobility Between and Within Canada and the United States," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 37(S2), pages 595-641.
    8. Emmanuel Okewu & Sanjay Misra & Jonathan Okewu & Robertas Damaševičius & Rytis Maskeliūnas, 2019. "An Intelligent Advisory System to Support Managerial Decisions for A Social Safety Net," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-14, August.
    9. Connolly, Marie & Leroux, Marie-Louise & Konou, Akakpo Domefa, 2025. "Evaluating the relationship between income, survival and loss of autonomy among older Canadians," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    10. Green, David & Kesselman, Jonathan Rhys & Tedds, Lindsay M., 2021. "Covering All the Basics: Reforms for a More Just Society," MPRA Paper 105902, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Petit, Gillian & Tedds, Lindsay M., 2020. "Overview of System of Income and Social Support Programs in British Columbia," MPRA Paper 105920, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Kevin Milligan & Tammy Schirle, 2021. "The evolution of longevity: Evidence from Canada," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(1), pages 164-192, February.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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