The Welfare State Nobody Knows – Debunking Myths about U.S. Social Policy

"Forget what you thought you knew. Christopher Howard takes us on an eye-opening, mind-expanding, entirely unexpected tour of the American welfare state. He describes a big, popular, sprawling, often Republican system that--thanks to cherished American institutions like federalism--does not work very well. Smart, wise, synthetic, funny, and iconoclastic--The Welfare State Nobody Knows is required reading for everybody who wants to know about welfare, about politics, or about the United States."--James A. Morone, author of Hellfire Nation and The Democratic Wish

"Christopher Howard is one of the most original and provocative students of the American welfare state--and this book splendidly sums up his insights. We learn that the American welfare state is larger and more dynamic than many have believed--yet, to this day, it fails to ameliorate inequality or poverty. Scholars and citizens alike will find that this book raises questions and provides answers nowhere else to be found."--Theda Skocpol, Harvard University

"Highly informative, original, and concise."--Martha Derthick, University of Virginia

"In The Welfare State Nobody Knows, Christopher Howard compellingly reveals an American welfare state that is at once larger than previously acknowledged and yet incapable of solving the fundamental social problems confronting the nation. The book, which combines narrative accounts and quantitative analysis, is up to date but historically grounded. It is also, at times, appropriately contentious. The book is a must read for anyone committed to understanding the unique character of social policy and politics in the U.S."--Mark A. Peterson, UCLA School of Public Affairs

"In this myth-busting book, Christopher Howard challenges cherished notions about the American welfare state--that it consists of two tiers with generous social insurance benefits for the middle class and stingy means-test benefits for the poor, that it emerged with two 'big bangs' in the 1930s and 1960s, that it is smaller than its European counterparts, and that the elderly usurp an unfair share of national resources. Beautifully written and clearly argued, The Welfare State Nobody Knows should be required reading for all students interested in American political development."--Jill Quadagno, Florida State University

"Howard provides ample food for thought-offering new perspectives on old questions, challenging prevailing stories about American social welfare policy, and sowing the seeds for more creative research and thought. The book's catchy, readable style and its attention to how to think about issues--questions to ask, data to consider, methods to use, and ways to assess our comfort or discomfort with results--engage the reader in applying the critical thinking skills that are essential to evaluating and participating in public policy."--Judith Feder, Georgetown University