University of Chicago Press Means–Tested Transfer Programs in the United States (National Bureau of Economic Research Conference Report)

U.S. government programs to aid the poor have long been controversial, with much debate centering on how much assistance should be offered and what forms it should take. This volume provides an overview of how such programs work. From the Inside Flap Few United States government programs are as controversial as those designed to aid the poor. From tax credits to medical assistance, aid to needy families is surrounded by debateon what benefits should be offered, what forms they should take, and how they should be administered. The past few decades, in fact, have seen this debate lead to broad transformations of aid programs themselves, with Aid to Families with Dependent Children replaced by Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, the Earned Income Tax Credit growing from a minor program to one of the most important for low-income families, and Medicaid greatly expanding its eligibility. This volume provides a remarkable overview of how such programs actually work, offering an impressive wealth of information on the nation's nine largest "means-tested" programsthat is, those in which some test of income forms the basis for participation. For each program, contributors describe origins and goals, summarize policy histories and current rules, and discuss the recipient's characteristics as well as the different types of benefits they receive. Each chapter then provides an overview of scholarly research on each program, bringing together the results of the field's most rigorous statistical examinations. The result is a fascinating portrayal of the evolution and current state of means-tested programs, one that charts a number of shifts in emphasisthe decline of cash assistance, for instance, and the increasing emphasis on work. This exemplary portrait of the nation's safety net will be an invaluable reference for anyone interested in American social policy. About the Author Robert A. Moffitt is a professor in the Department of Economics at Johns Hopkins University. He has edited or coedited several volumes concerning various aspects of the welfare system in the United States, most recently Evaluating Welfare Reform in an Era of Transition.