Poverty-alleviation programs like food stamps (SNAP), Social Security, and other "welfare" programs are broadly effective at reducing poverty, a new study from University of Chicago researchers found.
The study, performed by researchers Bruce Meyer and Derek Wu, conducted a more comprehensive analysis than most studies, because it used administrative data from the programs' payment records, not just survey data of recipients from the Census Bureau.
[...] For the elderly, Wu said the research found that Social Security benefits "single-handedly slashes poverty by 75%." Social Security's overall effect on all poverty is also enormous, responsible for by far the largest poverty reduction among all these programs, the study said.
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Wednesday May 30 2018, @06:14AM
Oh no, I think they work exceptionally well, for what they were designed for - making the unscrupulous rich richer, while presenting a polished straw man to take any flak.
Until such a time when ruthless self-interests are societally condemned and shut down, *any* scheme will be co-opted, exploited and manipulated in the favour of those who don't have any scruples doing so. That's the nature of the beast.