The Consequences of Decentralization: Inequality in Safety Net Provision in the Post–Welfare Reform Era

Authors: Sarah K. Bruch, Marcia K. Meyers, and Janet C. Gornick

Publication: Social Service Review. vol. 92, no. 1. pp. 3-35

Date: March 2018

Abstract:

Decentralized safety net programs provide much of the social provision in the US, yet the consequences for social provision have received remarkably limited attention. In this article, we examine cross-state inequality in social safety net provision from 1994 to 2014. We ask whether programs that are more decentralized in terms of policy design are more variable across states in terms of the generosity of benefits and inclusiveness of receipt and whether there has been convergence or divergence in programs affected by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) as well as in those that were not. We find substantial cross-state inequality in provision, with greater cross-state inequality in programs with more state discretion. In examining change over time, we find remarkable consistency in the levels of cross-state inequality; however, we also find that the devolution of authority under PRWORA increased cross-state inequality in programs affected by this legislation.

Link: The Consequences of Decentralization: Inequality in Safety Net Provision in the Post–Welfare Reform Era (PDF)

Related Commentary: How Strong is the Safety Net in the United States? It Depends on Where You Live.