Three Essays in Applied Labor Economics

The goal of this dissertation is to apply theoretical and empirical methodologies used in the field of labor economics to analyze several topics which have clear policy implications. Chapter 1 analyzes the relationship between domestic violence and welfare receipt in a more rigorous framework than has been previously possible. It is well documented that there is a strong relationship between abuse and welfare receipt and the assumption has predominantly been that welfare receipt affects the risk of victimization. I show that the direction of impact actually runs in the opposite direction. This finding is critical in light of the welfare reforms of the 1990\u27s. I find that violence decreased the likelihood of using welfare services prior to the reforms, and that this effect is even larger after the reforms took place. However, this negative effect is drastically reduced in the presence of the Family Violence Option. Chapter 2 broadens the analysis of domestic violence to include women of all income levels. Specifically, I look at how the decision to participate in the workforce affects abuse levels and vice versa. Because attitudes towards domestic violence and women\u27s working status likely vary by income levels, I analyze the relationship in both low and high income households. I find that for women with low income spouses, employment increases the likelihood of abuse, however, for women with high income spouses, employment decreases the likelihood of abuse. Chapter 3 attempts to reconcile the observed educational attainment gap between black and white workers with the monetary returns to education literature which predicts that black individuals have higher monetary incentives to invest. I examine the returns to education in a broader sense: the job satisfaction returns to education. I find that job satisfaction is actually declining in education for black workers. Further, it is found that education does not improve the ability of black workers to transition into new jobs that they like better. These results suggest that higher education may create expectations that are not being met by black workers, and one potential explanation for this is that covert discrimination still exists in the workplace

The Status of Women in the South

The southern United States is a dynamic and influential region marked by innovation and economic opportunities for women, yet also a region where inequalities persist and many women -- especially women of color and those who are immigrants -- face challenges such as high unemployment, a large gender wage gap, abuse of their reproductive rights, and low levels of political representation. This complex picture of the South as a region where both opportunities and disparities exist is often lost by those who either romanticize the South's positive qualities or exaggerate its negative aspects. Between these two views of the southern United States -- both of which are at least partially based in reality -- this report relies on empirical data to provide a balanced understanding of the status of women in the South today

Paid Parental Leave in the United States: What the Data Tell Us about Access, Usage, and Economic and Health Benefits

[Excerpt] This paper reviews research on the benefits of paid parental leave from the perspectives of individuals, families, employers, and the economy overall. It focuses specifically on leave taken to care for a new child (i.e. maternity or paternity leave). It provides context for the discussion of paid parental leave in the United States by describing state, federal, and international laws and regulations that provide workers with access to paid leave and current efforts to expand access; summarizes research on the availability of paid leave according to existing data sources; and makes recommendations for improving data collection and analysis to more clearly describe the extent of paid family leave in the United States. The paper also suggests ways to increase equity in access to paid leave.Paid_Parental_Leave_in_the_US.pdf: 4043 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

The Status of Women in the States 2015

The Women's Funding Network served as the national distribution partner for this massive, interactive data set and analysis tool produced by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. The report series includes chapters dedicated to women's employment and earnings, poverty and opportunity, work and family, violence and safety, reproductive rights, health and well-being,and political participation. Also included were state-by-state fact sheets on each of the 50 U.S. states as well as Washington, D.C

Paid Parental Leave in the United States

A report about paid family leave in specific states in the United States. It provides information about a few different acts about leave