20世纪60年代以来家庭结构与福利参与的变化：法律服务的作用
Changes in Family Structure and Welfare Participation since the 1960s: The Role of Legal Services
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics · 2024 · [{"name": "Jamein P. Cunningham", "affiliation": ["The University of Texas at Austin"]}, {"name": "Andrew Goodman-Bacon", "affiliation": ["Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis"]}]
中文摘要
本文评估“反贫困战争”法律服务项目（LSP）的效果，该项目为贫困社区提供补贴性法律援助，本文聚焦于离婚与福利获取问题。我们基于该项目1965年至1975年间的推广，采用双重差分（DiD）研究设计。我们发现新离婚率出现暂时性上升，福利参与率则持续上升，这与LSP活动的影响相一致。我们还发现非婚生育率上升，其原因在于结婚率下降而非出生率上升。因此，法律机构可及性的扩大直接和间接地促成了20世纪60年代家庭结构的变化。(JEL H53, I32, I38, J12, K36)
Abstract
This paper evaluates the effects of the War on Poverty's legal services program (LSP), which provided subsidized legal assistance to poor communities, focusing on divorce and welfare access. We use a difference-in-difference (DiD) research design based on the program's rollout from 1965 to 1975. We find temporary increases in the rate of new divorces and persistent increases in welfare participation, consistent with LSP activities. We find increases in nonmarital birth rates that stem from falling marriage rates rather than rising birth rates. Expanded access to legal institutions thus contributed directly and indirectly to changes in family structure in the 1960s. (JEL H53, I32, I38, J12, K36)