U.S. Social Welfare Policies and International Comparisons Chapter 13

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education International aspects to U.S. development The United States is a land of immigrants The fleeing of refugees, immigration and forced relocations fill this nation with diverse and multicultural population Today globalization places U.S. in relation to multiple nations and international forces

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Immigrants and Refugees Indigenous people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population The rest of our population came here either willingly or under force from other nations Between 1991 and 2000, more than 9 million people came to the U.S. legally Millions more entered without legal documentation

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Difference between immigrant and refugee: Immigrant – person who comes from another country to live and settle in new country Refugee – person fleeing persecution from a country officially recognized as oppressive

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education GLOBALIZATION The United States is a global economy, it is linked to countries all over the world The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) formalized this relationship with legislation that cuts tariffs or taxes with trading partners Mexico and Canada

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education BORDER POLICIES In spite of economic policies such as NAFTA, relations across the border, particularly with Mexico have been full of conflict Historical conflict over land Undocumented workers – needed by labor intensive industries, yet not recognized through legal channels

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education How does the U.S. compare? The United States lags many countries in key areas: Behind UK, Japan, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, Australia, France, Germany in: Health expenditures Life expectancy Infant mortality

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Social Welfare Policies Supporting Work U.S. lags behind other nations in its support of working conditions, care of children, and care of other family members 163 other countries provide guaranteed paid leave for women in connection to childbirth 45 other countries provide fathers paid paternity leave

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Critical International Concerns Poverty World wide poverty is deep and rates are high, contributing to destabilization of governments and poor health conditions Diseases know no boundaries HIV/AIDS is spreading world wide 40 million people carry the virus

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education International Relations The United States is dependent on other nations for materials, goods, investments and employment The growth and stability of other nations contributes to growth and stability of all The United States, because of its size, wealth, and history, is placed in a leading position in regard to international relations