oes Measurement Matter? Estimating a Model of Labor Supply and Welfare Participation using Survey and Administrative Data

The administrative modules were collected directly from state and county welfare offices with monthly information on program participation, eligibility, hours of work, earnings, payment amounts, and the relevant program rule inputs (unearned income, assets, assistance unit size, etc.). In addition to the large administrative samples, two rounds of household survey data were collected between 1993 and 1996 on roughly 3,000 cases, providing contemporaneous and retrospective information on a variety of topics including program participation, earnings, hours of work, and demographic information. Finally, a data validation was conducted by the California Review and Evaluation Bureau (REB) which involved interviewing case workers, inspecting files, and collecting non-computerized administrative information including hours worked. Data from 7,000 cases validated by the REB are available providing data through 1996.