| ID | 155590 |
| Title Proper | Why are there no universal social programs in the United States?: |
| Other Title Information | a historical institutionalist comparison with Canada |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Beland, Daniel ; Waddan, Alex |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Much has been written about “American exceptionalism” in social policy, but one aspect has received relatively little attention thus far: the absence of universal public social programs where entitlements to benefits and services are derived from citizenship or residency. This absence is especially striking because other liberal welfare regimes such as Canada and the United Kingdom have long developed such programs. Focusing on policy design and using Canada as a contrasting case, this article explains why there are no universal social programs in the United States, a country where the dichotomy between social assistance and social insurance dominates. The empirical analysis focuses on three policy areas: health, pensions, and family benefits. Stressing the impact of institutional factors on policy design, the article adopts a historical institutionalist approach and shows that the explanation for the absence of universal social programs varies from one policy area to the next. |
| `In' analytical Note | World Affairs US Vol. 180, No.1; Spring 2017: p.64-92 |
| Journal Source | World Affairs US Vol: 180 No 1 |
| Key Words | United States ; Canada ; Welfare State ; Social Security ; Welfare ; Social Insurance ; Historical Institutionalism ; Social Policy ; Universal Social Programs ; Comparative Welfare Systems |