America's Welfare State

Astute historian that he is, Edward Berkowitz has written an informative and provocative account of U.S. social policymaking since the 1930s. He convincingly highlights gaps between expectations and outcomes, tracing the roots of America's recurrent 'welfare crises.' This book is bound to interest scholars and policy experts alike. -- Theda Skocpol, Harvard University

In America's Welfare State, Edward Berkowitz offers a concise and informative historical overview of this costly and often frustrating area of domestic policy.Describing the uneasy evolution of America's welfare programs, Berkowitz explains how Social Security became popular, why it almost went bankrupt, and why its long-term prospects for solvency remain uncertain. He also explores the question of national health insurance, noting that the U.S. outspends Japan on health care per capita by a margin of two to one, and yet millions of Americans remain without health insurance.