Review article
https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v7i2.255
Battle Against Poverty in the USA
Predrag Bejaković
; Institut za javne financije
Abstract
This paper discusses the historical development and the main contemporary forms of income maintenance and insurance against poverty in the USA, in other words, what is called social protection or welfare. The first part of the paper is devoted to a historical view of the forms of help to the poor and the establishment of the modern system of welfare. The second part of the paper deals with the issues connected with the data about poverty, the decision on whom to help, the conventions used to construct these figures and their limitation. Part three is a review of the US welfare system, where Aid to Families with Dependent Children and welfare reform are explained. In the shorter part four of the work, “Instead of Conclusion – Have Welfare Programs Helped?” stress is placed on the problems and critiques specially oriented to the efficiency of the American welfare system. The complex problems of the retirement and health insurance systems are not addressed, for they require separate and comprehensive analysis.
Keywords
social policies; social expenditures; inequality and poverty; welfare system; income maintenance; United States of America
Hrčak ID:
30008
URI
Publication date:
1.2.2000.
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