Welfare State
T/F: The U.S. developed their social welfare programs much later than our industrialized Western counterparts and it has a deep, historical fear of an overreaching central government.
True
What are the three categories of spending for the federal budget?
Mandatory, Discretionary, and Interest on the Federal Debt
The ________________ was the beginning of the modern welfare state.
The New Deal
This theory says that more skills, education, training, etc. lead to greater productivity and earnings. Essentially, the more educated you are, the better you’ll do.
Human Capital Theory
This entitlement program provided small amounts of cash to families, came with automatic eligibility for Medicaid and other ‘in-kind’ benefits, and had modest work requirements and work supports.
AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children)
Where do social welfare activities occur? (hint 6 answers)
Kinship, religion, marketplace, workplace, mutual assistance, government
What are the three largest mandatory spending programs?
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
This economic theory assumes that markets are inherently stable.
Neoclassical economic theory
The US poverty measure is based on the cost of what?
Food
This cash benefit provides partial wage replacement for those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
Unemployment Insurance
What are the 3 major (and highly debated) perspectives on the government’s role in social welfare policy?
Residual, institutional, developmental
T/F: Mandatory spending will change very little unless congressional action fundamentally alters the legal framework for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
True
This economic theory says that market economies are inherently unstable and that there is not a self-correcting property in the market to return a depressed economy to growth and full employment?
Keynesian economic theory
This type of retirement plan is defined by what the individual puts in. The money put in is often tax-deferred, puts the risk on the employee rather than the employer, and it is the most common offering among private employers.
Defined Contribution Plan
This means-tested program provides cash benefits to poor aged, disabled, and blind people based on uniform, nationwide eligibility requirements?
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
This theory says that only a small group of people tend to dominate American policymaking and the political agenda by controlling most of the major institutions in the U.S.
The majority of discretionary spending goes toward what?
Defense spending
Prior to this major event, most Americans didn’t think that the federal government could or should intervene in the economy. Most people thought the economy could take care of itself and the president shouldn’t interfere with unemployment, deflation, etc.
The Great Depression
This poverty measure not used in the US considers you poor if you make less than 50% of the median national income.
The relative poverty measure
What program is considered residual welfare, helping those who aren’t eligible for TANF or SSI, and isn't offered in every state?
GA (General Assistance)
The US welfare state development was directly related to what 3 structural contexts surrounding social problems?
Historical background, technological stage of development, socio-economic system
Which of the following are NOT in the mandatory spending budget?
Social Security, Medicare, Defense, Medicaid, UI, Student loans, Retirement programs for federal employees, Education programs
Defense & Education programs
This term refers to the government's use of taxing and spending to influence the economy
Fiscal policy
This individual explanation of poverty says that children learn their values and attitudes from their poor “subculture” and thus entrap themself in a cycle of poverty from generation to generation.
The culture of poverty
This cash benefit is administered by the tax code and provides a cash ‘refund’ to people (particularly with children) that have a low or moderate income.