Rethinking Welfare Rights: Reciprocity Norms, Reactive Attitudes, and the Political Economy of Welfare Reform
نویسنده
چکیده
A spate of recent reports on President Clinton’s 1996 welfare reform initiative, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (“PRA”), indicates that the new welfare regime appears to be working. Although results vary by state, welfare rolls have dropped dramatically as many former recipients have gone to work. It remains to be seen whether the welfare population is better off and whether current trends will persist if the economy slows down. For the time being, welfare reform correlates with reduced dependency on federal poor relief programs. The public also seems pleased with the new welfare system. Public opinion surveys consistently reveal staunch support for key features of President Clinton’s reform initiative, including work requirements for the able-bodied and time limits on benefits. A majority of voters approve of providing services
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