Poverty rates across the suburban landscape have increased by 50 percent since 1990. This suburbanization of poverty is one of the most important demographic trends of the last 50 years.
Accounting for grocery prices and the effort eating home-prepared meals requires, the benefits commonly called food stamps fall far short of paying enough for the poor to eat right.
The demographics, which include declining numbers of adult children free to step up and potentially fewer immigrants, suggest that this big problem society faces will get bigger.
SNAP and its precursors have weathered plenty of efforts to shrink the safety net. Its decades of bipartisan support make it likely to survive this one.
Diane Dewar, University at Albany, State University of New York
The new rules Kentucky and other states want to impose could leave millions of Americans who benefit from this safety net program uninsured – and resorting to the emergency room for their health care.
Only very low-income Americans who are working or looking for work are eligible for federal, time-limited welfare dollars. This restriction doesn’t always help them get back on their feet.
Misleading stereotypes help explain why the share of families living in poverty who benefit from a core assistance program has plummeted – and why Trump wants new cuts.
Cutting the program formerly known as food stamps would hurt low-income Americans and the whole economy. As research indicates that it’s working well, this drive to defund is baffling experts.
David Campbell, Binghamton University, State University of New York et Kristina Marty, Binghamton University, State University of New York
The best way to assess a program’s effectiveness is see how well it meets the goals for which it was created. Maybe someone could tell the Trump administration.
David Campbell, Binghamton University, State University of New York et Kristina Marty, Binghamton University, State University of New York
Trump’s budget director singled out Meals on Wheels as a waste of federal dollars. But identifying bad ways to spend taxpayer money is harder than it sounds.
A growing number of people globally live with chronic illness. By the time they reach 65, most Australians have at least one chronic condition and 80% have three or more. Pharmaceutical treatment is often…
Medicare is one of the cornerstones of the Australian health care system, but there are serious questions about some aspects of the program. Over time, government reforms have created some perverse incentives…
Associate Dean of the College of Community and Public Affairs, and Professor of Public Administration, Binghamton University, State University of New York