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
