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Lessons from the Snowy Slope: Vision and Politics in American Social Insurance
Author(s) -
McGovern Kate
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
american journal of economics and sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1536-7150
pISSN - 0002-9246
DOI - 10.1111/j.1536-7150.2012.00868.x
Subject(s) - opposition (politics) , ideology , politics , social insurance , welfare , political economy , political science , economics , law and economics , sociology , law
The enactment of social insurance, a fundamental departure from means‐tested welfare programs, was born out of the crisis of the G reat D epression. Policy options to strengthen S ocial S ecurity are mathematically simple, but ideologically contentious. Arguments against the program, remarkably consistent since its inception, have been gaining traction in the current political climate. As the debate proceeds, it is useful to examine the history of opposition and review the case for universal social insurance.