PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS OF SINGLE MOTHERS

Young single mothers' human capital development and labor market parti cipation are important issues of public policy concern in the United S tates. This article uses a dynamic approach to model the determinants of single mothers' entry into and exit from productive activities. Usi ng 14 waves of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, th e article shows that kin coresidence facilitates young single mothers' entry into productive activities but does not play a significant role in sustaining participation. Women's individual trainability, the loc al labor market conditions, child support, and some family background factors all play a role. The results also demonstrate the insignifican ce of race and never-married versus ever-married status.