During the 1990s the United States undertook the greatest social policy reform since the Social Security Act of 1935. In "Welfare Reform: Effects of a Decade of Change," Jeffrey Grogger and Lynn Karoly assemble evidence from numerous studies, including nearly three dozen social experiments, to assess how welfare reform has affected behavior. To broaden our understanding of this wide-ranging policy reform, the authors evaluate the evidence in relation to an economic model of behavior. The evidence they collect reveals the trade-offs that policymakers face in achieving the conflicting goals of promoting work, reducing dependency, and alleviating need among the poor. Finally, the authors identify numerous areas where important gaps remain in our understanding of the effects of welfare reform.

The book will be a crucial resource for policy economists, social policy specialists, other professionals concerned with welfare policy, and students.

This title describes the education and labor market initiatives implemented or under way in four countries in the Arab region - Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates - to address the human resource issues they each face as they prepare their countries for a place in the 21st century global economy. Together, these countries highlight the variety of challenges faced by countries in the region and responses to those challenges.

Increased interest in California and other states in providing universal access to publicly funded preschool education is behind this study's aims to analyze the economic returns from investing in high-quality preschool education in California.. There is increased interest in California and other states in providing universal access to publicly funded preschool education. In considering such a program, policymakers and the public focus on the potential benefits and costs of such a program. This study aims to inform such deliberations by conducting an analysis of the economic returns from investing in high-quality preschool education in the state of California.

One-liner: Increased interest in California and other states in providing universal access to publicly funded preschool education is behind this study's aims to analyze the economic returns from investing in high-quality preschool education in California. 450-character abstract: There is increased interest in California and other states in providing universal access to publicly funded preschool education. In considering such a program, policymakers and the public focus on the potential benefits and costs of such a program. This study aims to inform such deliberations by conducting an analysis of the economic returns from investing in high-quality preschool education in the state of California.

What are the forces that will continue to shape the U.S. workforce and workplace over the next 10 to 15 years? With its eye on forming sound policy and helping stakeholders in the private and public sectors make informed decisions, the U.S. Department of Labor asked RAND to look at the future of work. The authors analyze trends in and the implications of shifting demographic patterns, the pace of technological change, and the path of economic globalization.

The authors find that well-targeted early intervention programs for at-risk children, such as nurse home visits to first-time mothers and high-quality pre-school education, can yield substantial advantages to participants in terms of emotional and cognitive development, education, economic well-being and health.

The Qatar Supreme Council for Family Affairs is developing a social indicators database system that will provide essential information for assessing the well-being of families in Qatar. This report, which presents the final results of an analysis by the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute, addresses questions related to the implementation, use, and maintenance of the database, as well as its potential short- and long-term benefits.