Paxson Christina author Waldfogel Jane author Columbia University. Social Work Columbia University. Social Work originator text Articles 2002 English We examine how child maltreatment—including neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and other forms of maltreatment—is affected by parental economic circumstances. Using state‐level panel data on cases of maltreatment and numbers of children in foster care, we find that increases in the fractions of children with absent fathers and working mothers in a state are related to increases in many measures of maltreatment, as are increases in the share of families with two nonworking parents and those with incomes below 75% of the poverty line. Decreases in state welfare benefit levels are associated with increases in foster care placement. Individual and family studies Economics, Labor 20 3 435 474 2002-07 http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/339609 http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:14642 NNC NNC 2012-09-10 14:42:57 -0400 2012-09-10 14:48:33 -0400 8665 eng