Chapter 16

Poverty in America:The Nature of the ProblemThe poor: who and how many?

The poverty lineChildren; single-parent families headed by femalesMinority-group membersRural and inner-city dwellers

Living in poverty: by choice or by chance?Many Americans believe poverty is a choiceMost poor are in poverty as result of circumstance

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Insert Figure 16-1Child Poverty Rates

Politics and Policies of Social WelfareNegative government: staying out of people’s lives,

giving people maximum freedomPositive government: intervention necessary to buffer

economic and social forces beyond a person’s control

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Politics and Policies of Social WelfareSocial insurance programs

Widely supported by public Heavily funded Benefits to individuals of all income levels Seen as an earned entitlement

Social securityUnemployment insuranceMedicare

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Politics and Policies of Social WelfarePublic assistance programs

Less public support Receive less funding Restricted to people of low income Seen as a hand-out

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)Head StartEarned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

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Insert Figure 16-2Number of Welfare Recipients, 1996-2011

Politics and Policies of Social WelfarePublic assistance programs

In-kind benefits: food stamps and housing vouchersMedicaidThe SCHIP programThe 2010 Health Care Reform Act

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Politics and Policies of Social WelfareCulture and social welfare

U.S. has most inefficient welfare system in the Western world Scores of separate programs that may overlap Large bureaucracy needed to monitor eligibility

Inequity Social security and Medicare: many high-income earners receive

benefits

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Insert Figure 16-3The Welfare Bureaucracy

Education as Equality of OpportunityPublic education: leveling through the schools

America’s heavy investment in public educationGoal is equality of opportunity1964 Elementary and Secondary Education Act is the

cornerstone of the federal government’s public-school efforts

The 1964 Higher Education Act Pell Grants Federal loans

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Insert Figure 16-4The Earning Power of a College Degree

Education as Equality of OpportunityImproving America’s schools

American students not high performers relative to other advanced countries, though America spends very highly on education

Inequality of wealth in communities

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Education as Equality of OpportunityImproving America’s schools

School choice Has gained momentum in recent years Vouchers

Mandatory high-stakes testing No Child Left Behind Controversial increase in weight on testing

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The American Way of Promoting the General WelfareDemocracy and economic securityThe American way of welfareDifferences between the European and American

approach

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Insert Figure 16-5Income Inequality in the United States