Yunju Nam

Abstract This study examines the impacts of Child Development Accounts (CDAs) on account holding, saving, and asset accumulation for children, using data from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment (SEED OK). SEED OK, a policy test of universal and progressive CDAs, provides a 529 college savings plan account to every infant in the treatment group with automatic account opening and an initial deposit. SEED OK also encourages treatment participants to open their own 529 accounts with an account op

This study examines the factors associated with welfare exits and reentries after welfare reform. Results from the analyses of data from the Women’s Employment Study suggest that lack of a high school degree, low work experience, substance dependence, physical health problems, children’s health and emotional conditions, domestic violence, and transportation barriers have significant associations with either the ratio of leaving welfare or the likelihood of returning to welfare. Those who exit we

Objective. Over the past decade, federal and state governments have substantially liberalized asset limits in welfare. This article examines whether this policy change promotes asset accumulation among the target population of actual and potential welfare recipients. Methods. Utilizing household data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics as well as state data, this study employs a difference‐in‐difference approach in order to determine whether state asset limits affect the target population's

Objective: This study examines racial/ethnic disparities in the experience of food insufficiency among families with infants, focusing on the roles of socioeconomic characteristics. Method: We examine the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment data collected from a probability sample of White, African American, American Indian, and Hispanic caregivers of infants randomly selected from Oklahoma’s birth certificates (N = 2,652). Data are analyzed using Fairlie’s extension of the Blinder-Oaxaca decompos

The long‐term economic security and development of a family depend largely upon saving and asset accumulation, yet most measures of economic well‐being focus on short‐term consumption needs. In this study, we take a broader view by specifying four types of savings goals for US families: precautionary, retirement, homeownership, and education goals. This study develops methods of calculating these savings goals for different types of families under various assumptions, using information from vari

PURPOSE: The welfare reform bill of 1996 severely constrained noncitizens' eligibility for the Food Stamp Program (FSP). This study examined the effects of eligibility restrictions on older immigrants' FSP participation and food insecurity. We paid special attention to household composition and household eligibility as well as older immigrants' individual eligibility. DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 3,175 low-income older adults from the 1999 Current Population Survey. We used probit

We examined financial capability and asset ownership among low-income older Asian immigrants with special attention given to later-age immigrants who came to the United States when they were 55 years old or older. Survey data collected from supported employment program participants (N = 150) were used. The analyses demonstrated a low level of financial knowledge and asset ownership in the sample. The findings also indicated that later-age immigrants' financial-management skills, knowledge of soc

The welfare reform act of 1996 imposed restrictive welfare eligibility rules for noncitizens. As a result, noncitizens have more limited access to major public assistance programs than ever before. Existing studies document the dramatic impacts of these policy changes on immigrants, their communities, and service providers. Specifically, the percentages of noncitizens receiving public benefits declined sharply, reports of their hardships increased, and service providers were forced to provide ad

OBJECTIVES: I examined changes in older immigrants' health insurance coverage after welfare reform in the United States to determine whether the reform measures achieved their goal of saving money by reducing Medicaid participation without increasing the number of uninsured people. METHODS: Data were obtained from older adults who participated in the Current Population Survey's Annual Social and Economic Supplement from 1994 to 1996 and 2001 to 2005. I used logistic regression to estimate change

This article examines financial capability among low-income older Asian immigrants, using data from in-depth interviews with 13 participants in a subsidized employment program in Los Angeles. Overall, respondents present a portrait of economic insecurity. Qualitative analyses indicate that respondents perceived little need to improve their financial knowledge and management skills because they had "no money to manage." Most respondents lacked either financial knowledge or financial management sk