An ecosystems framework to economic analysis of a policy, such as requiring all able-bodied welfare recipients to seek work, provides for a focus on a. multiple interacting factors such as costs to the public in terms of possible homelessness, family break-up, and poor health of family members of those in poverty b. personal relationships in the family and mental health disorders c. the large numbers of jobs available for low-skilled workers d. the cost-savings to taxpayers in getting people into full-time work through removing them from the welfare rolls.