Welfare Realities

Avoiding rhetorical excess and narrow partisanship, Ms. Bane and Mr. Ellwood criticize both sides in the current welfare debate, those who grow censorious about welfare cheating as well as those who grow starry-eyed about welfare rights. Exemplary in [its] moderation, Bane and Ellwood[’s]…book is about why welfare is such a tough nut for the most adroit ‘policy wonk’ to crack. -- Jean Bethke Elshtain * New York Times Book Review *
An easily read volume by two senior Clinton advisers that contains the single best summary of the key empirical research on welfare dependency, much of it their own. -- Douglas J. Besharov * Washington Post Book World *
[Welfare Realities] is a compilation of chapters individually authored by either Bane or Ellwood. Bane’s contributions analyze program administration and recommend replacing the ‘eligibility–compliance’ culture of welfare with an authoritative culture promoting self-sufficiency. Ellwood’s chapters reanalyze his and Bane’s widely cited but previously unpublished data on the duration of individuals’ reliance on welfare. Influenced by recent work showing that women ‘cycle’ on and off welfare, Ellwood adds up individuals’ ‘spells’ on welfare and examines the differences among those who remain a long time on welfare, those who exit quickly, and those who cycle on and off… Ellwood also examines theories of welfare behavior by comparing the predictions of economists’ rational explanations and other theories with findings on welfare use. Not surprisingly, data on single mothers’ work and welfare patterns support a model of a distinctive culture of dependency. -- Stacey Oliker * Signs *
This meticulous research—from the operation of AFDC programmes to examination of dependency theory—offers humane insights into how the system works and how it might be improved. It is particularly well-focused on the plight of the working poor, often forgotten under the hype of dependency and its focus of female single-headed welfare households. -- Dilys M. Hill * American Politics Review *
A brilliant little book. -- Ashima Goyal * International Journal of Development Banking *
Provides a broad review of some of the key issues relating to welfare reform by two people who have been in the middle of the battle. -- Rebecca M. Blank * Journal of Economic Literature *
[The authors] report a wide range of findings helpful in understanding welfare and welfare reform…[and] bring excellent credentials to the effort… The book deserves a wide readership. -- John Clayton Thomas * Perspectives on Political Science *
Though hailing from the liberal side of the political spectrum, [Bane and Ellwood] have produced a book which largely steers clear of ideological shoals. Rather, they focus on presenting the reality behind the rhetoric, on which policy should be based… Their thorough research and analysis will help policymakers who do ask such questions design new policies that might make a difference. -- Doug Bandow * Religion and Liberty *