Welfare work requirements and child well-being: evidence from the effects on breast-feeding.
A central theme of welfare reform is that recipients are required to engage in work activities. In many states, these work requirements apply to mothers whose children are a few months old, which may increase the costs and decrease the prevalence of breast-feeding. Given the substantial benefits of breast-feeding, any reduction represents an important negative consequence of these requirements. Our results suggest that in the absence of welfare reform, the national breast-feeding rate six months after birth would have been 5.5% higher in 2000. Such negative consequences of these policies must be weighed against potential benefits as states refine their welfare programs.
Haider
Steven J
SJ
Department of Economics, Michigan State University, 101 Marshall Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. haider@msu.edu
Jacknowitz
Alison
A
Schoeni
Robert F
RF
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States