America's Misunderstood Welfare State: Myths and Realities

Abstract

To listen to the critics, one would think that the nation's social welfare programs were an abject failure–ungovernable, unaffordable, and undesirable. But though widely believed by Americans of every political persuasion, the perception of failure is false. As the authors demonstrate, America today has all the institutions of a mature welfare state, while still regarding “welfare statism” with deep suspicion. The authors seek to explain this paradox and to set the record straight about the actual workings and accomplishments of the nation's welfare programs – social security, public assistance, and medical care –and it shows that the gloom and doom that surround so much public discussion in this area stems from simple, attractive–and false–ideas about what these programs are and how they work. Above all, they argue that American social welfare policy has been shaped by certain enduring commitments which most Americans believe in whether they realize it or not.

Do Social-Welfare Policies Reduce Poverty? A Cross-National Assessment

“…Yet, as is often noted, this argument fails to square with some important facts about welfare and poverty in the United States (see, e.g., Bane & Ellwood 1994;Blank 1997;Ellwood & Summers 1986;Marmor, Mashaw, & Harvey 1990;Mishel, Bernstein, & Schmitt 1997, chap. 6).…”

“…Most studies which do examine the relationship between social-welfare programs and poverty have focused upon a single nation, commonly the United States (Bane & Ellwood 1994;Blank 1997;Danziger, Haveman, & Plotnick 1986;Danziger & Weinberg 1994;Ellwood & Summers 1986;Gottschalk, McLanahan, & Sandefur 1994;Haveman & Scholz 1994;Jencks 1992;Marmor, Mashaw, & Harvey 1990;Murray 1984;Sawhill 1988;Wilson 1987). This single-country focus has limited their capacity to effectively gauge the impact of social-welfare policies on poverty rates.…”

Intergenerational conflicts about social equity, expectations and obligations: lessons from the United States

“…Support varies by political affiliation, income and perceived "deservingness" of welfare recipients but not by age (Day, 1990: Lomax Cook & Barrett, 1992. Persons of all ages express support for the American welfare system which includes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid (health care for the very poor of all ages), and there is evidence to suggest that the system is here to stay (Marmor, Mashaw & Harvey, 1990).…”

Emigration of Adult Children of Older Academics in Southwestern Nigeria and the Future of Child-Parent Support Culture

“…For instance, in the United States of America, means-testing is used in their entitlements philosophy and controls. Social assistance programmes are based on the philosophy that presumes that people suffer from a lack of medical care, food, housing, and income because they did not live as they should (Marmor, Mashaw, and Harvey, 1990). There are rules encouraging the able-bodied to work, families to take responsibility for the care of the needy, and everyone to prepare for future.…”