A Study of Reductions in the Welfare Caseload of the TANF Program and Its Policy Implications for the United States

一九九六年美國「貧窮家庭暫時性救助金」(TANF)方案的通過，普受政界的支持，主因來自經濟顧問協會的研究報告指出，TANF方案十分奏效。不過，學術界對上述研究發現的學術性與經驗性立論，卻出現正反不一的爭辯。本文試圖自長期時間趨勢與環境成熟因素觀點，闡明一九九六年至一九九九年間福利金受助人數的驟降源由，並從福利金受助人數的降低與貧窮率間的變化，加以探討。本研究發現，州政府的自由裁量權，與論在TANF方案的實質內容與執行上，對福利金受助人數的減少，顯具重大影響力，然而，對貧窮率的降低與否，則鮮有影響。本文結論是，為有效評估IANF方案對母親與兒童的整體性影響，未來長期性的研究，應針對不同團體、地區及實施期間的政策成效，一一納入考量為宜。

關鍵字

貧窮家庭暫時性救助金方案；失依兒童家庭補助方案；個人責任與工作機會調節法；福利金受助人數

並列摘要

The passage, in 1996, of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program has enjoyed extraordinary political support, largely as a result of the research study by the Council of Economic Advisors, which asserted that TANF actually 'works'. However, significant debate has surfaced within academic circles regarding both the theoretical and empirical foundations for such findings. This paper sets out to shed some light on the precipitous decline in welfare caseloads during the period 1996-1999, undertaking comparisons with regard to the variations in caseload reduction and poverty rates by taking into consideration both trend and maturity factors. The study finds that discretion at state level, in respect of both program content and enforcement, has had a significant impact on caseload reductions whilst having little to do with the actual alleviation of poverty. The conclusions of this paper suggest that future longitudinal studies. should take into account distributional issues, such as the consequences of policies for different groups, regions or time periods, in order to effectively evaluate the overall impact of the TANF program on mothers and their children.

並列關鍵字

temporary assistance for needy families ； AFDC ； PRWORA ； welfare caseload

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