Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/263647 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 15431
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Stigma of welfare participation is important for policy and survey design, because it deters program take-up and increases misreporting. Stigma is also relevant to the literature on social image concerns, yet empirical evidence is scant because stigma is difficult to empirically identify. We use a novel approach to studying stigma by examining the relationship between program participation in a recipient's local network and underreporting program participation in surveys. We find a robust negative relationship and rule out explanations other than stigma. Stigma decreases when more peers engage in the stigmatized behavior and when such actions are less observable.
Subjects: 
welfare stigma
program participation
social networks
social image
peer effects
JEL: 
D19
D85
D91
I38
Z13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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