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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Parenting Across Racial And Class Lines: Assortative Mating Patterns Of New Parents Who Are Married, Cohabiting, Dating, And No Longer Romantically Involved, Joshua Goldstein, Kristen Harknett Dec 2005

Parenting Across Racial And Class Lines: Assortative Mating Patterns Of New Parents Who Are Married, Cohabiting, Dating, And No Longer Romantically Involved, Joshua Goldstein, Kristen Harknett

Kristen Harknett

In this article, we examine the assortative mating patterns of new parents who are married, cohabiting, romantically involved, and no longer romantically involved. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, we find that the effects of crossing racial and ethnic lines depend very much on whose perspective is taken. Crossing racial and ethnic lines has large effects on mothers' relationship status at the time of baby's birth but makes little difference from the fathers' perspective. Crossing educational attainment lines has little effect on relationship status at the time of baby's birth but same education-couples were slightly less …


Does Receiving An Earnings Supplement Affect Union Formation?: Estimating Effects For Program Participants Using Propensity Score Matching, Kristen Harknett Dec 2005

Does Receiving An Earnings Supplement Affect Union Formation?: Estimating Effects For Program Participants Using Propensity Score Matching, Kristen Harknett

Kristen Harknett

This paper demonstrates a novel application of propensity score matching techniques: to estimate nonexperimental impacts on program participants within the context of an experimental research design. I examine the relationship between program participation, defined as qualifying for an earnings supplement by working full time, and marital union formation among low-income mothers in two Canadian provinces. I find that receipt of an earnings supplement substantially increased union formation in one province but not the other. A subgroup analysis based on propensities of program participation revealed that the positive effect on unions was concentrated among relatively disadvantaged participants. The techniques demonstrated in …


The Relationship Between Private Safety Nets And Economic Outcomes Among Single Mothers, Kristen Harknett Dec 2005

The Relationship Between Private Safety Nets And Economic Outcomes Among Single Mothers, Kristen Harknett

Kristen Harknett

This article examines the relationship between private safety nets and economic outcomes among 2,818 low-income single mothers in three U.S. counties in the 1990s. I define private safety nets as the potential to draw upon family and friends for material or emotional support if needed. Using a combination of survey and administrative records data collected for the National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies, I find that human capital deficits, depressive symptoms, and low self-efficacy are associated with having less private safety net support, suggesting that social network disadvantages compound individual-level disadvantages. I also find that mothers with strong private safety nets …