SAGE Journal Articles

Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Journal Article 16.1: Béland, D., & Waddan, A. (2017). Why are there no universal social programs in the United States?: A historical institutionalist comparison with Canada. World Affairs, 180, 64–92.

Abstract: Much has been written about “American exceptionalism” in social policy, but one aspect has received relatively little attention thus far: the absence of universal public social programs where entitlements to benefits and services are derived from citizenship or residency. This absence is especially striking because other liberal welfare regimes such as Canada and the United Kingdom have long developed such programs. Focusing on policy design and using Canada as a contrasting case, this article explains why there are no universal social programs in the United States, a country where the dichotomy between social assistance and social insurance dominates. The empirical analysis focuses on three policy areas: health, pensions, and family benefits. Stressing the impact of institutional factors on policy design, the article adopts a historical institutionalist approach and shows that the explanation for the absence of universal social programs varies from one policy area to the next.

Journal Article 16.2: Matsubayashi, T. & Rocha. R. R. (September 2012). Racial diversity and public policy in the States. Political Research Quarterly, 65, 600-614.

Abstract: How does racial diversity affect public policy outcomes in the states? The policy backlash hypothesis suggests that the presence of blacks increases antagonistic attitudes toward minorities among whites and thus produces racially conservative policies. The electoral constraint hypothesis argues that the presence of blacks increases the size of population that supports policy liberalism and thus results in more liberal policies. The authors reconcile these competing explanations by arguing that the hypothesized negative impact of minority group size on policy liberalism varies across states in accordance with socioeconomic and institutional conditions that strengthen or weaken the impacts of electoral constraint or backlash.

Journal Article 16.3: Yan, W. & Douglas, A. C. (August 2013). Federal environmental regulation impacts on local economic growth and stability. Economic Development Quarterly, 27, 179-192.

Abstract: Federal environmental regulations under the Clean Air Act affect employment as local economies respond to a changing regulatory environment. We analyze the net employment growth and employment stability effects of Clean Air Act regulations, characterizing responses in these key indicators of local economic development. Using nationwide longitudinal county data from 1980 through 2005, we find that enhanced employment stability is associated with nonattainment areas for total suspended particulates (TSP) and 1-hour ozone; negative employment growth is found in TSP and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas, whereas positive employment growth for counties is found in 1-hour ozone and sulfur dioxide nonattainment areas. Also, regulatory effects persist after attainment status has been regained for TSP and transitory persistence is seen after regaining attainment status for 1-hour ozone.

Journal Article 16.4: Meyer, M. H., Wolf, D. A., & Himes, C. L. (March 2006). Declining eligibility for social security spouse and widow benefits in the United States? Research on Aging, 28, 240-260.

Abstract: Currently, two thirds of older women receive Social Security spouse and widow benefits, which are distributed on the basis of marital rather than employment status. But marriage rates are down, particularly among Black women. This study used June 1985, 1990, and 1995 Current Population Survey data to trace trends in marriage for women from five birth cohorts and to predict marital patterns for the latter three cohorts. The authors found that the proportion of women who will reach age 62 without 10-year marriages, and thus be ineligible for spouse and widow benefits, is increasing modestly for Whites and Hispanics but dramatically for African Americans. When women who were born in the 1960s reach age 62, 82% of Whites, 85% of Hispanics, and just 50% of Blacks will be eligible. The authors discuss alternative mechanisms for distributing benefits.