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.

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.

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.