Journal of Economic Perspectives
ISSN 0895-3309 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7965 (Online)
Two Histories of the Public Safety Net
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 39,
no. 1, Winter 2025
(pp. 77–100)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
Although poverty in the United States has declined over the last half century, it remains a serious problem. This article charts the historical development of the public safety net, starting with means-tested programs and then adding inclusive social insurance programs. Over time, programs targeted at people with low incomes gradually shifted from the local to the state to the national level. Nevertheless, they remained politically vulnerable as policymakers questioned the deservingness of recipients and often tried to limit cash welfare. Those concerns were less salient with inclusive programs like Social Security and Medicare, which expanded rapidly between 1950 and 1980, largely to the benefit of older Americans. The concluding section highlights recent trends that challenge the supposed weakness of means-tested programs and strength of inclusive programs.Citation
Howard, Christopher. 2025. "Two Histories of the Public Safety Net." Journal of Economic Perspectives 39 (1): 77–100. DOI: 10.1257/jep.20231393Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H53 National Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
- H55 Social Security and Public Pensions
- H75 State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions
- I32 Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
- I38 Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
- J65 Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
- N32 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: U.S.; Canada: 1913-