Asset Limits in Public Assistance and Savings Behavior Among Low-Income Families
Low-income families receiving public benefits in the United States are often subject to asset limits for eligibility, which some argue to be counterproductive to their long-term economic stability. Previous research suggests that families may be more likely to save when states increase these limits. Still, more research is needed to establish whether low-income families adjust financial decisions based upon TANF asset restrictions. Our study builds upon the Nam (2008) study, which analyzed the effects of “liberalizing asset limits'' on savings behavior. We utilized data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The theoretical premise of this study is that when the asset limit is low, families are encouraged to avoid accumulating assets. Because building a savings account is a valuable first step toward self-sufficiency and eventual withdrawal from public assistance, a low asset limit appears to be a counterproductive public po...

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