Making Social Welfare Policy in America

"This is a study of the development of the American social welfare system during the postwar period through the end of the 20th century. Edward Berkowitz focuses on three case studies, the development of disability insurance in the mid-1950's, the passage of Medicare in 1965, and the welfare reform legislation of 1996, to explore the politics of welfare programs, and the relationship between experts, interest groups, political parties, and the ambitions of political leaders in the development of and resistance to an expanded national role in providing welfare. Issues raised and choices made at the time of the creation of programs like disability insurance continue to shape existing programs and debates about welfare reform decades later as reflected in his third case, the 1996 welfare reform legislation"--