Poverty, Welfare, and the Livelihood Strategies of Nonmetropolitan Single Mothers*

nonmetropolitan and metropolitan single mothers ’ economic livelihood strategies. We have three objectives: (1) examine differences in employment, cohabitation, co-residence with other adults, and welfare receipt; (2) evaluate how these livelihood strategies are associated with economic well-being; and (3) identify key metro-nonmetro differences in the effectiveness of these livelihood strategies in improving the economic well-being of single mothers. We nd surprisingly similar livelihood strategies in nonmetro-politan and metropolitan areas. Employment, cohabitation, and co-resi-dence are strongly associated with economic well-being. However, nonmetro single mothers are less likely than metropolitan mothers to bene t economically from full-time employment. Given our results, ‘‘work- rst’’ policies are likely to be less ef cacious in nonmetropolitan areas. Indeed, nonmetropolitan single mothers are often ‘‘triply disadvantaged’ ’ compared to their metro counterparts; they experience higher rates of poverty, higher barriers to welfare receipt, and lower economic returns from othe