The Threat of Welfare Migration: A Spatial Approach.

Competitive federalism and race politics have helped shape aid to the poor in the United States. In this paper, I investigate how the geographic distribution of population influences antipoverty policymaking in the states. Specifically, I test whether welfare benefit levels and time limits are affected by the presence of large poor or minority populations living near state borders. I estimate that doubling the black population living within fifty miles of the average state’s borders would decrease that state’s maximum annual welfare benefits by about $220. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]