Abstract
This paper measures the extent to which declines in social assistance (SA) participation were associated with novel and aggressive reforms referred to as new reform strategies: work requirements, diversion, earning exemptions and time limits. Controlling for province-specific benefit levels, eligibility requirements, GDP growth, labour market conditions and demographics, SA participation rateswere more than one percentage point lower (equivalent to a 13% decline) in provinces with newreforms. Work requirements with strong sanctions had the sharpest negative associations. New reform strategies explain at least 10% of observed declines inSAparticipation, twice that of benefit levels and eligibility requirements.