Welfare to Votes: Does TANF Depress Political Participation?

Authors

Taylor Bambas Rosecrans, Brigham Young University
Dr. Christopher Karpowittz, Brigham Young University

Keywords

welfare, TANF, Temporary Assistance of Needy Families, political participation

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Political Science

Abstract

The purpose of my study is to find a link between government welfare programs and the political participation of recipients. This kind of study is called a policy feedback analysis. It examines a public policy to see what effect it had on human behavior. There is basis for this sort of research in political science. One highly respected work that was one of the first policy feedback studies was Suzanne Mettler’s book “Soldiers to Citizens” (2005). Mettler found that after WWII, the G.I. bill helped former soldiers to feel like highly valued citizens, funding their education and inspiring them to be involved in their communities. This generation became very politically and socially involved.

Recommended Citation

Rosecrans, Taylor Bambas and Karpowittz, Dr. Christopher (2013) "Welfare to Votes: Does TANF Depress Political Participation?," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 461.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/461