Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare

Strategic fiscal spending: Evidence from China

“…The latter adopts a principal–agent framework to explain why autocrats spend money. In the first strand, it has been noted that the need for improving their own career prospects motivates leaders to spend more (Guo, 2009; O'Brien & Li, 1999; Piven & Cloward, 1993). Both democratic and autocratic leaders will spend more in regions where citizens are more aggrieved with their leaders (Benney, 2016; Lee & Zhang, 2013; Stokes, 2005; Zhan, 2021).…”

“…Yet, the literature does not explain why this can be the case. Some academics have noted that autocrats, like democratic leaders, are inclined to increase spending to win the hearts of their citizens (Benney, 2016; Guo, 2009; Piven & Cloward, 1993; Zhan, 2021). Their logic is that autocrats are motivated to deal with grievances that will threaten stability.…”

The return of forced labour in the workfare state: enforced work for benefits in the UK in the 1930s and since 2010

“…Deterrence meant that the conditions attached to the receipt of relief would be sufficiently unpleasant to ensure only the genuinely desperate would apply. 'Less eligibility' was the principle that the relief on offer should provide a significantly worse standard of living than even the worst-off 'independent labourer' (Fox-Piven and Cloward, 1972;Polanyi, 2001;Burns, 1941). In the present day this is called a 'work incentive'.…”

Welfare participation and depression among youth in the United States: A systematic review

“…Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], formerly Food Stamps), public housing, and job-skills training (e.g., Work First programs). Statistical data from Western countries has shown welfare programs have been effective in helping some of the most vulnerable to maintain a basic standard of living (Piven & Cloward, 1993).…”