Journal of Economic and Social Measurement - Volume 22, issue 1

Authors: Van Hook, Jennifer V.W. | Bean, Frank D. | Glick, Jennifer E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Policy relevant social and economic research that involves comparing rates of public assistance receipt among various groups must rely extensively on the U.S. Census Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) for reasons of sample size. For instance, the PUMS is the …only data source that contains a sufficient number of cases to examine patterns of welfare receipt among immigrant groups disaggregated by national origin. The usage of census data, however, suffers two drawbacks. One is that the PUMS does not ascertain the program (AFDC, SSI, General Assistance) from which recipients report having received payments. The other is that little is known about the accuracy of census measures of public assistance receipt. This paper develops and presents a procedure to estimate AFDC and SSI receipt based on the correspondence between the recipient's characteristics and the eligibility criteria for these programs. The research also assesses the accuracy of estimates of the number of persons receiving any kind of cash public assistance (the presently available measure), as well as the number receiving AFDC and SSI (the new measures presented here). The results indicate that census data provide very satisfactory assessments of levels of SSI usage and assessments of levels of AFDC usage that are adequate for some analytic purposes. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-1996-22101

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 1-23, 1996

Authors: Galvez, Janet | McLarty, Carol

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Literature on temporary migrants is sparse compared to the varied impacts in locales affected. Both the aging of the US population and an increase in telecommuting argue for more research in this area rather than less. One reason for the …lack of studies is the absence of good data. This paper examines methodologies reported in the literature and suggests an “add-on” telephone survey design that is replicable. In this paper, results from a cross section of a Florida telephone survey are compared to results obtained using a similar instrument in Arizona. The telephone survey promises both cost effectiveness and a design that can be repeated in different locations. This methodology, applied across states and areas, will provide a unified approach to collecting data on temporary migrants in the US population. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-1996-22102

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 25-42, 1996

Authors: Sharpe, Deanna L. | Abdel-Ghany, Mohamed

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: A wage decomposition method is used to examine components of average wage differentials in the youth labor market, letting both race and gender vary. Issues of selection bias and computation of the nondiscriminatory wage are addressed. Findings indicate that bias in the youth labor market focuses more on gender than race. However, until researchers devise consistent methods of estimating the source, amount, and direction of discrimination, policy makers face difficulty …devising procedures to correct discriminatory wage differences. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-1996-22103

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 43-55, 1996

Authors: Hwang, Jang C.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper presents a theoretical perpetual inventory model for measuring both the quantity and price sides of fixed capital flows and stocks. Because conventional models only measure the quantity side of fixed capital flows and stocks, it is difficult to fit the economic depreciation variable into the models. This paper provides a clear picture of how physical depreciation and economic depreciation are applied to the quantity side and price side of the …model. The new model presented in this paper also generalizes the conventional model. In any case, the conventional model which uses the deflator of the gross fixed capital formation as the deflator of all fixed capital flows and stocks is questionable. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-1996-22104

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 57-79, 1996