Racial differences in length of welfare use

Longitudinal data show that black female heads remain on welfare substantially longer than white female heads. The median length of time on public assistance for white women is 21.6 months, while black women remain a median of 45.2 months. In order to explain these differences, several demographic variables were controlled for-education, employment status, number of children, and age. By doing so, the aggregate racial difference in the length of welfare use zvas eliminated. Black and white women with similar characteristics behave identically in their use of welfare. A theoretical model placing these findings in the larger context of opportunity and culture is developed in the concluding section. It is argued that length of xvelfare use ultimately reflects the role of opportunity rather than race.