WELFARE

FOUR FEATURES

• Public assistance and social insurance
• Local variation
• Private agents
• Incomplete welfare state

PURPOSE OF SOCIAL WELFARE

• Relief of misery
• Preservation of social order and discipline
• Regulation of the labor market
• Political mobilization

THE ORIGINS AND FAILURE OF THE POORHOUSE

POVERTY

• Periodic destitution was normal
• Distinguishing the poor and ordinary working people is difficult

WAGE LABOR

• Trades were being replaced by wage labor
• People became employees rather than independent craftsman
• Apprenticeships shortened or disappeared
• glutted labor market lead to lower wages

MECHANIZATION

• Mechanization of agriculture
• Loss of winter income
• Factories replaced domestic goods
• Manufactures hired people seasonally

MYTH

JOSIAH QUINCY

CAREY'S STUDY

• Average working family earned$143
• He bare-bones budget was $145.74
• This is based off 0 sick days or vacation
• A major factor was women's wages