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The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization V15 I2
© 1999 Oxford University Press
Article |
The form of U.S. in-kind assistance
Columbia University
Abstract
Child care and housing programs in the United States are marked by quality homogeneity, restricted eligibility, rationing, and copayments that increase as recipients' income rises. Why? I show that these programs can best be explained as attempts to reduce the child care or housing 'poverty gaps,' subject to constraints that require that recipients be treated quite well. Such constraints are justified when the public is really not sure whether the government is acting generously.