Social Welfare

Abstract

This research explains the main concept of social welfare and outlines the important factors relating to social welfare. The paper also identifies the major problems that led to an increase in the social welfare problems in America. The paper also highlights the ways in which Americans take welfare benefits for granted. The report also outlines the efforts that are made by the American nation in order to eradicate the problem of social welfare and explains the changes that have taken place up till now.

Social Welfare

Introduction

The term social welfare includes things that positively impact the quality of life for instance a decent job, financial resources to meet the needs, housing, access to education and health, leisure time etc. Although the notion of welfare is subjective (what is good for one person may not suit another), social welfare is associated with objective economic factors. For example in a country where an average family consisting four member needs $200 a month to meet their basic needs, so therefore all the families earning less than $200 cannot enjoy social welfare.

It is quite certain to say that members of a family earning $100 a month mostly suffer from eating disorders and have a lower life expectancy. The State should be responsible for promoting social welfare among all its citizens. This will require policies and measures to correct the inequalities inherent in the capitalist market. The redistribution of income and development of free social services for everyone are necessary conditions for achieving social welfare. The possibility of extending social welfare to all social layers implies the existence of wealth (to fund state spending); therefore, each government must broaden their sources of revenue in order to generate more wealth.

Discussion

Welfare in the U.S. mainly refers to the government welfare programs introduced in order to provide assistance to the underemployed or unemployed. Help and financial assistance is offered to poor through various government welfare programs for example WIC (Women, Infants and Children Program), AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and Medicaid etc.

Important Indicators of Social Welfare in America

American countries have made efforts to give its people a better standard of social welfare, however, due to economic, political and social characteristics, not all have achieved the same level of development. Demographic indicators are records that allow us to know and compare aspects of education; health, housing, and economic activity of its inhabitants, and in this respect, the United States and Canada are presented as countries most developed in the region, with an average development followed by Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Cuba. Due to the serious economic problems and poor organization of governments in Latin America, the rural areas have been almost abandoned, as their inhabitants leave for the big cities in search of better living conditions, causing these areas to be increasingly depopulated.

Many of them decide to move to the U.S., hoping to resolve the growing problem of poverty and lack of welfare facilities. On the contrary it is certain to say that such movements ...