Describes the background, design, and findings of several large-scale, government sponsored income maintenance experiments. Suggests that whether or not the findings indicate that a guaranteed income program could ameliorate poverty, its implementation would be unlikely in view of systemic obstacles. (Author/GC)

This report provides an overview of the poverty problem and possible solutions. The available statistics and their limitations are summarized. The complementary roles of income-maintenance and employment policies are discussed. Because employment policies are limited to those who can be made employable, the report concludes that liberal changes in…

The National High School Debate Problem Area for 1973-74 centers on the questions, "What is the role of the federal government in extending public assistance to all Americans living in poverty?" This collection of federal government documents and periodical articles supplements the "ERIC First Analysis" of the topic (CS 500…

Four papers are included, the first being an April 12, 1973 interview with U. S. Representative Martha W. Griffiths regarding a study authorized by Congress on welfare programs. Seymour L. Wolfbein and Karl T. Schlotterbeck present a statement on H. R. 1, a proposed solution to the welfare problem, before the Senate Finance Committee on January…

These hearings before the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs are organized in several parts, of which this document is the first. These hearings begin with opening statements by a number of Senators. Following these, presentations are made by such witnesses as the following: Rev. Jesse Jackson, national director, Operation…

This report presents data on the numbers of persons receiving benefits from various public income programs. Included in the scope of the study are social insurance programs, income-in-kind programs, public assistance, and other income supplement programs. The report focuses particularly on cases in which persons receive benefits under more than…

This chart book summarizes two volumes in the subcommittee's series, "Studies in Public Welfare." Paper No. 4 (Dec. 22, 1972) explored work incentive and disincentive features in existing and proposed public welfare programs (cash welfare, unemployment insurance, social security, veterans' benefits, food stamps, public housing, and medicaid).…

While static economic theory predicts that most income transfer programs will lead to reductions in the labor supply of program beneficiaries, the theory has nothing to say about the magnitude of such reductions. In order to predict the magnitude of such reductions the labor supply schedule of potential beneficiaries must be known. In three…

This paper is concerned with research issues that must be faced in assessing the potential subnational effects of proposed income maintenance programs. The paper is divided into discussions of four major tasks that must be performed by policy analysts. The first is simply to list program provisions that may have important subnational effects,…

The urban impacts of the Program for Better Jobs and Income, the recent but unsuccessful attempt to reform the welfare system, are analyzed in this paper. The proposed results of this program indicate that these urban impacts would have been minimal, but consistent with an urban policy that seeks to improve the economic viability of distressed…

This study examines the consumption of resources by retired persons by distinguishing between institutionally controlled resources (social security, medicare, prescription discounts, medicaid, heating subsidy, supplemental security income, veterans' benefits, disability income, and meals-on-wheels) and personally controlled resources (gardens,…

A decade's explosive growth in the scope, funding and complexity of national social policy has created serious problems in the United States. This first overview report notes that the Office of Economic Opportunity (now known as the Community Services Administration) has ceased to provide a focal point for national social policy. It was this state…

This report examines the relationship between marital status change and enrollment in income maintenance programs for female heads of households. The report reviews the first 18 months of the Seattle and Denver Income Maintenance Experiments, which provide financial grants to low- and non-income families. Over 5,000 people enrolled in the program…