Poor America: A Comparative Historical Study of Poverty in the United States and Western EuropePoor America describes the sharp contrast in the extent of poverty between the United States and six Western European countries. While 36 million Americans live below the poverty line, a much smaller percent of Western Europeans struggle with the same problem. Samuel J. Eldersveld seeks to discover why this variance exists by exploring various theories. To explain the larger percentage of American poor, he tackles the history of poverty in each of the featured countries along with examining the "system theory" approach, the role of values, the political elite character in the United States compared to Europe, and the differential robes of the business elites in these countries. Poor America follows the issue of poverty through the present day, discussing proposals and prospects for reform in poverty relief in the United States. |
Contents
Historical Studies of Poverty in the United States the Netherlands Britain France Belgium Germany and Sweden ... | 63 |
Final Observations The 20th Century and Today | 125 |
| 155 | |
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19th century action administration adopted American anti-poverty legislation approach argued assistance attitudes basic Belgium Boston business elite business leaders capitalism charity commitment compared Congress conservative costs Culture dealing with poverty debate Democracy Democrats developed Dutch Dutch Republic early economic election elite system England English European systems families France French funds Germany Gouda governmental health insurance help the poor House ideological income increased institutions interest labor Laissez-Faire liberal major role million national government needy Netherlands old age pension Parliament particularly parties period Poor Law poor relief population poverty line poverty problem Poverty Rates President question reported Republican responsibility scholars Senate sense Sidney Verba Skocpol social reform legislation Social Security Act social welfare socialists society Sweden tion types U.S. Census Bureau unemployed United United States Congress University Press vote Western Europe Western European workhouses York