Assets and the Poor
New American Welfare Policy
Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, History
| Author: | Michael Sherraden, Neil Gilbert | ISBN: | 9781315288352 |
| Publisher: | Taylor and Francis | Publication: | September 16, 2016 |
| Imprint: | Routledge | Language: | English |
| Author: | Michael Sherraden, Neil Gilbert |
| ISBN: | 9781315288352 |
| Publisher: | Taylor and Francis |
| Publication: | September 16, 2016 |
| Imprint: | Routledge |
| Language: | English |
This work proposes a new approach to welfare: a social policy that goes beyond simple income maintenance to foster individual initiative and self-sufficiency. It argues for an asset-based policy that would create a system of saving incentives through individual development accounts (IDAs) for specific purposes, such as college education, homeownership, self-employment and retirement security. In this way, low-income Americans could gain the same opportunities that middle- and upper-income citizens have to plan ahead, set aside savings and invest in a more secure future.
This work proposes a new approach to welfare: a social policy that goes beyond simple income maintenance to foster individual initiative and self-sufficiency. It argues for an asset-based policy that would create a system of saving incentives through individual development accounts (IDAs) for specific purposes, such as college education, homeownership, self-employment and retirement security. In this way, low-income Americans could gain the same opportunities that middle- and upper-income citizens have to plan ahead, set aside savings and invest in a more secure future.
