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American Politics and Government
Welfare Policy
15
International Studies
Undergraduate 1
12/18/2012

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Cards

Term
Significance (specifically) of welfare policy
Definition
o Communitarian ideals – care about the needs of the broader community
o Capitalism – every man for himself to reach success
Term
Theories of poverty (3)
Definition
Individualist theory: you don’t work hard
Structuralist theory: unequal social structures perpetuate povery
Fatalist view: poor will always be amongst us

o Fatalistic
♣ Fate is to blame. The poor will always be with us
♣ Catholics tend to favor this view

o Structural
♣ Looking at systems, institutions and economies; how societies are set up
♣ Mainline protestant tend to favor this view
♣ Example: education in suburbs vs. city
• Local property taxes fund schools

o Individualistic
♣ We have poverty because people are to blame for their individual plight
♣ People are lazy and don’t work hard enough. Plenty of opportunity
♣ Evangelicals tend to favor this view
Term
why welfare policy (3)
Definition
Income inequality
Wealth inequality
Pull yourself up by your bootstraps
Term
deserving vs undeserving poor
Definition
o Elderly generally deserving because they have worked their entire life and need a break
o Poor generally undeserving because they can still work themselves out of their situation
Term
contributory programs (types)
Definition
a social program fainanced in whole or in part by taxation or other mandatory contributions by its present or future recipients. Social Security “forced savings”

o Financed by taxation in a way that can be called “forced savings”
o Ex: social security
Term
noncontributory programs (types)
Definition
Social programs that provide assistance to people based on demonstrated need rather than any contribution they have made (Medicaid, SSI, Food stamps, in-kind benefits)

o Programs to which beneficiaries do not have to contribute – welfare
o Ex: Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps etc
Term
indexing
Definition
periodic adjustment of welfare payments, wages, or taxes based on the COLAs

Benefits paid out under contributory programs are modified annually by cost-of-living adjustments
Term
means testing
Definition
procedure by which potential beneficiaries of a public assistance program est. their eligibility by demonstrating a genuine need for assistance

Procedure requiring applicants to show a financial need for assistance
Term
flexible vs inflexible benefits
Definition
o Flexible benefits allow for the recipient to use them in the manner that they please – cash
o Inflexible benefits only allow for the recipient to use them in a specific manner – food stamps for food, medical vouchers etc
Term
seniors vs children
Definition
Term
myths of welfare
Definition
o Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are the most expensive, not TANIF
o Women don’t have extra children on welfare because TANIF doesn’t give extra money to women who have more kids while on welfare
o Average family size on welfare is 4
o Most people are on welfare for 3 years at a time
o Welfare fraud rate is less than 10%
o Most people are white, not black
o Only .5% of women mothers on welfare are teenagers
Term
income redistribution
Definition
Use a progressive tax system to provide more funding for those who need it more

the transfer of income, wealth or property from some individuals to others caused by a social mechanism such as taxation, monetary policies, welfare, charity, divorce or tort law. The desirability and effects of redistribution are actively debated on ethical and economic grounds.
Term
poverty line
Definition
the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a given country
Term
swedish welfare system
Definition
Government funds many welfare programs with tax dollars like health care, unemployment, elderly care, education etc
Term
welfare as well-being
Definition
Social safety net
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