Week Eleven: Viewing IGRs through the Emergence of the American Welfare State

Objectives for Class Discuss the importance of welfare states Discuss the importance of welfare states Consider the American experience Consider the American experience Evolution of IGRs and federalism Evolution of IGRs and federalism Exercise in applying course concepts Exercise in applying course concepts

IGRs and the War on Iraq What are the potential domestic consequences of the war for intergovernmental relationships and/or federalism? What are the potential domestic consequences of the war for intergovernmental relationships and/or federalism? What are your perspectives on the viability of some type of a federal democracy in Iraq? What are your perspectives on the viability of some type of a federal democracy in Iraq? What pressing domestic issues are falling to the wayside? What pressing domestic issues are falling to the wayside?

Emergence of the American Welfare State Responsiveness of the American federal system Responsiveness of the American federal system Highlights intergovernmental competition Highlights intergovernmental competition Diffusion and innovation Diffusion and innovation Citizenship rights Citizenship rights Path dependency Path dependency “I don’t study welfare, why should I care?” “I don’t study welfare, why should I care?”

Social Welfare Policy Context in Early 20 th Century Dual federalism Dual federalism Weak governmental institutions, few resources Weak governmental institutions, few resources Heavy reliance upon local private charities Heavy reliance upon local private charities Outdoor relief v. cash assistance Outdoor relief v. cash assistance Moral concerns about public assistance Moral concerns about public assistance Emphasis on economic development Emphasis on economic development Grass roots reform movement → White House Conference in 1909 Grass roots reform movement → White House Conference in 1909

Responsiveness of System Expanding the scope of conflict Expanding the scope of conflict Multiple access points Multiple access points Laboratories of experimentation Laboratories of experimentation Informal cooperation in dual federalism system Informal cooperation in dual federalism system

Intergovernmental Competition Neighbors’ decisions to adopt Neighbors’ decisions to adopt Neighbors’ decisions to set benefit levels Neighbors’ decisions to set benefit levels Neighbors’ decisions about residency requirements Neighbors’ decisions about residency requirements Why not an immediate “race-to-the-bottom?” Why not an immediate “race-to-the-bottom?”

Citizenship and Program Benefits What “social rights” do we have? What “social rights” do we have? Program benefits deemed inadequate Program benefits deemed inadequate Program benefits did expand in generosity Program benefits did expand in generosity Program adoption v. program structure Program adoption v. program structure

Path Dependency Inertial quality of public organizations Inertial quality of public organizations Regional and interstate variation present immediately Regional and interstate variation present immediately Variation in program structure persists into modern era Variation in program structure persists into modern era Importance of initial institutional arrangements Importance of initial institutional arrangements

How Are Lessons from Mothers’ Aid Relevant to Your Areas of Interest?

Readings for Next Week Chapter Six, America’s Welfare State, Edward D. Berkowitz Chapter Six, America’s Welfare State, Edward D. Berkowitz "The Worst Thing Bill Clinton Has Done," Atlantic Monthly, March 1997 "The Worst Thing Bill Clinton Has Done," Atlantic Monthly, March 1997 "How Families That Left Welfare Are Doing: A National Picture," The Urban Institute, August 1999 "How Families That Left Welfare Are Doing: A National Picture," The Urban Institute, August 1999 “Work Activity and Obstacles to Work Among TANF Recipients,” The Urban Institute, Sept “Work Activity and Obstacles to Work Among TANF Recipients,” The Urban Institute, Sept “Welfare Reform and Devolution,” Brookings Review, 2001 “Welfare Reform and Devolution,” Brookings Review, 2001 “Federal and State Roles in Welfare,” Brookings Review, 2001 “Federal and State Roles in Welfare,” Brookings Review, 2001 Chapter Twelve, Welfare Reform: The Next Act Chapter Twelve, Welfare Reform: The Next Act “Welfare Reform Reauthorization,” Poverty Research News, 2001 “Welfare Reform Reauthorization,” Poverty Research News, 2001 CASE: Housing for the Poor (online) CASE: Housing for the Poor (online)