This paper investigates the relationship between labor market experiences and poverty levels for white, black, and Hispanic women in the US. The first part examines 1990 and 2002, two years with very similar national unemployment levels, and shows how the probability of being in poor changed...

Current welfare debates assume that the poor are taking unfair advantage of the largess of the government by shunning work for welfare benefits. Yet many studies have shown that many of those who qualify for welfare benefits fail to receive assistance. This study adds to this growing body of...