WELFARE LIBERALISM, SOCIAL POLICY, AND POVERTY IN AMERICA. |
Author: |
Schwarz, John E
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Author Background: |
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Date |
1/1/90
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Type |
Journal
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Journal Title: |
Policy Studies Review
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Volume/Pages |
10(1): 127-139.
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Subject Matter |
Social/Public Policy and Administration
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Population |
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Pedagogies |
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Abstract |
The conservative explanation for the persistence of poverty - that liberal social programs created it with disincentives - explains little of the poverty that exists. The conservative explanation gained acceptancebecause failed liberal antipoverty efforts have been based on a flawed understanding of the problem. Because of the oversupply of young adult workers in the 1970 s, there was a proliferation of jobs paying lowwages. Liberal programs, assuming the poor simply needed training and education, ignored the shortage of jobs paying above-poverty-level wages. Liberals also assumed that with the requisite training allAmericans have the capacity to gain the skills necessary to obtain those jobs. This assumption neglects data showing that a larger proportion of individuals with low native ability have earningsbeneath the poverty line than workers with normal ability, even when controlling for educational attainment.
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