PUBLIC WELFARE AND MIGRATION.

Abstract

The article focuses on Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program in the U.S., while analyzing the dynamics between public welfare and migration. AFDC is a federal participation program through grant-in-aid to states. As a national average the federal government contributes nearly 60 percent, state governments about one-third, and local governments the remainder. The basic purpose of the program is to enable needy children who are deprived of parental support or care to have the economic support and services they need for health, education, and family-based development. The rapid increase in the AFDC program is notable. The unit of analysis in the study presented in this article is population aggregates-counties in Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas of the contiguous United States. From the literature it is clear that a most important attracting force in migration is superior opportunities for employment which reflect differences in economic conditions. It is true for nonwhites as well as whites. One of the aspects of the welfare argument is that migrants, particularly nonwhite migrants, are more likely to be unemployed and need welfare assistance.