I analyze a program implemented in Texas schools serving underprivileged populations that pays both students and teachers for passing grades on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. Using a difference-in-differences strategy, I find that program adoption is associated with increased AP course and exam taking, increases in the number of students…

Given the recent rise in childhood obesity, the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) have received renewed attention. Using panel data on more than 13,500 primary school students, we assess the relationship between SBP and NSLP participation and (relatively) long-run measures of child weight. After documenting a…

Considers the use of instrumental variables to estimate effects of treatments on treated and randomly selected groups. Concludes that instrumental variable methods are extremely sensitive to assumptions about how people process information. (SK)

We examine the effect of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) availability with the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey III. Our work builds on previous research by developing a transparent difference-in-differences strategy to account for unobserved differences between students with access to SBP and those without, using serum…

Evaluation of Washington's Family Independence Program (1988-1993), designed to increase self-sufficiency of welfare recipients, shows that employment was lower and welfare participation higher than under Aid to Families with Dependent Children and there was little increase in education and training participation. The program apparently made…

Concludes that the Upward Bound program is of marginal social value, with low or nonexistent net benefits. (BH)

Reviews and assesses evaluations of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) programs. Most studies found that the programs raised earnings by $200 to $600 annually. Compares studies, indicating differences in methodology and how these differences affected the estimated impact, and provides implications for policy and recommendations…

This paper examines the major methodological advantages of random assignment for the purpose of estimating the effectiveness of current manpower policy. It also reviews the claimed methodological and ethical objections to experiments. The authors argue that the offsetting gain from experimentation is the inherent reliability of experimental…

Despite high costs, this program is worthwhile because of its impact on post-training earnings. (BH)

When the mean impact of an assigned social program cannot be estimated due to non-feasibility of a pre-intervention baseline survey, it is possible to track the ex-participants instead. By developing a triple-difference estimation model, measured outcome changes are compared between present participants and ex-participants. With sufficient follow…

Not all policy questions can be addressed by social experiments. Nonexperimental evaluation methods provide an alternative to experimental designs but their results depend on untestable assumptions. This paper presents evidence on the reliability of propensity score matching (PSM), which estimates treatment effects under the assumption of…

Significant monetary benefits, due mainly to increased and improved labor market participation, found in combined in-school and summer Neighborhood Youth Corps programs, although no net benefit in high school retention and graduation rates. (MF)

After reviewing the strengths and shortcomings of current programs, the authors conclude that the key to a humane and reasonable system lies in the recognition and exploitation of the interdependence of work and welfare. (Editor)

Data from experimental evaluations of four state welfare-to-work programs were combined with information on the selection process in order to determine the efficacy of social programs in light of performance standards. Data suggest that either the federal requirements cannot be met or that standards can only be met under special circumstances.…