Welfare and the Culture of Conservatism: A Contextual Analysis of Welfare-to-Work Participation in North Carolina

ABSTRACT

Welfare participation varies across the United States due to a myriad of welfare program differences specific to geographical locations. The purpose of this study is to examine Work First participation rates among the eligible poor utilizing a county-level analysis of North Carolina. Findings suggest the proportion of poor single mothers, region, county political orientation, and rates of disability receipt affect program participation. Findings highlight the importance of examining the welfare program at the county level and the dynamics of welfare participation, particularly in terms of how those in power affect access to social services among families in need.

KEYWORDS:

• Families
• gender
• poverty
• race
• region
• rural
• TANF
• welfare

Notes

1. The addition of the demographic variables in Model 2 greatly improves the model fit (the adjusted R² increases substantially). Given the improved fit, we find the second model is a better test of how these variables, including population density, explain welfare participation.