Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need Chapter 16

Poverty in America The poor: Who and how many? The poor: Who and how many? The poverty line The poverty line Children, single-parent families headed by females, some minority groups Children, single-parent families headed by females, some minority groups Living in poverty: By choice or by chance? Living in poverty: By choice or by chance? Many Americans believe poverty is a choice Many Americans believe poverty is a choice Most poor are in poverty as result of circumstance Most poor are in poverty as result of circumstance © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.2

Child Poverty Rates © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.3

Politics and Policies of Social Welfare Negative government: staying out of people’s lives, giving people maximum freedom Negative government: staying out of people’s lives, giving people maximum freedom Positive government: intervention necessary to buffer economic and social forces beyond a person’s control Positive government: intervention necessary to buffer economic and social forces beyond a person’s control © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.4

Politics and Policies of Social Welfare Social insurance programs Social insurance programs Social security Social security Unemployment insurance Unemployment insurance Medicare Medicare © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.5

Politics and Policies of Social Welfare Public assistance programs Public assistance programs Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Head Start Head Start Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) In-kind benefits: food stamps and housing vouchers In-kind benefits: food stamps and housing vouchers Medicaid Medicaid © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.6

Number of Welfare Recipients, © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.7

Politics and Policies of Social Welfare Culture and social welfare Culture and social welfare Inefficiency Inefficiency Higher bureaucratic costs: federal structure, and need to check eligibility of each individual Higher bureaucratic costs: federal structure, and need to check eligibility of each individual Inequity Inequity Social security and Medicare: many high-income earners receive benefits Social security and Medicare: many high-income earners receive benefits © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.8

The Welfare Bureaucracy © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.9

Education as Equality of Opportunity Public education: leveling through the schools Public education: leveling through the schools America’s heavy investment in public education America’s heavy investment in public education Goal is equality of opportunity Goal is equality of opportunity Improving America’s schools Improving America’s schools American students not high performers relative to other advanced countries, though America spends very highly on education American students not high performers relative to other advanced countries, though America spends very highly on education Inequality of wealth in communities Inequality of wealth in communities © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.10

The Earning Power of a College Degree © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.11

Education as Equality of Opportunity School choice School choice Has gained momentum in recent years Has gained momentum in recent years Vouchers Vouchers Mandatory high-stakes testing Mandatory high-stakes testing No Child Left Behind No Child Left Behind Controversial increase in weight on testing Controversial increase in weight on testing © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.12

The American Way of Promoting the General Welfare Democracy and economic security Democracy and economic security The American way of welfare The American way of welfare Differences between the European and American approach Differences between the European and American approach © 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.13