In all fairness, I didn't claim that welfare does increase homelessness, though I suspect that it does, but merely pointed out that the statement seemed to presume--or that in any case people supporting welfare often presume--that it decreases homelessness.
As for emprical research, I second Tom's call. I do seem to recall that the issue of welfare dependence briefly loomed large during the 1980s, and that one statist-liberal think-tank (I believe it was Brookings, and perhaps Bill Wickens recalls) published a study that concluded that welfare did not cause welfare dependence. I also recall The Wall Street Journal editorial page and others ripping to shreds that study. I don't recall if the study addressed homelessness per se. David In a message dated 6/20/03 11:07:14 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > >> The main "good" it provides is a negative one, that of keeping > > >> homelessness and starvation to a low enough level to prevent > > >> political instability. > > > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > This of course presumes that the welfare state reduces homelessness > > > and starvation rather than encouraging it. > > > >In politics the appearance is usually more important than the reality. > > > >-- > >Anton Sherwood, http://www.ogre.nu/ > > > >--- > > > >While I, too, fully agree (statements and inuendos) ... I'd like to challenge >the Armchair list for objective data showing the welfare state reducing >homelessness, or increasing it, or not. > > > >I don't think there are any good studies with good conclusions. > > > >Tom Grey
