Researchers have found ways to address all of these issues, but the choice is always between the desire to enhance the accuracy of the data and the risk of biasing the results of the research. Woven through all the sessions were discussions of data access and quality, sampling problems, and linkages between data from different programs and between administrative data and other sources. Hu compared the marriage rates of AFDC and AFDC-UP recipients. The analysis recognizes that married women can receive AFDC benefits under some circumstances, and that marital incentives depend on whether the male spouse is a parent of the AFDC children. Hu finds evidence that higher benefits have a strong effect that discourages marriage among women initially in the AFDC-UP program.
Responses are largest for young, white, high school dropouts.
PRC presents this working paper for download and discussion. The authors do note that these very strong positive results are subject to limitations of the merged administrative data they used for the evaluation. By using a statistical model estimated from merged administrative data, the authors will identify client characteristics associated with high likelihoods of having labor market difficulty, which will allow agencies to identify, at the time of client intake, those individuals who are most likely to benefit from intensive case management, training or other services. By targeting services, resources can be delivered more effectively. PRC presents this working paper for download and discussion.