This book identifies specific changes to bring U.S. social policy in accord with the Information Age of the 21st century, in contrast to the policy infrastructure of industrial America.

Welfare State 3.0: Social Policy after the Pandemic acknowledges the existing social infrastructure, considers viable options, and provides supporting data to suggest social policy reform by four strategies: consolidating programs, harmonizing applications, expanding equity, and conducting experiments. The book favors discreet, poignant proposals of social programs. In 12 chapters, the text provides an analysis that honors past accomplishments, recognizes the influence of established stakeholders, and concedes program inadequacies, while plotting specific opportunities for policy improvement. In contrast to liberalism’s tendency toward idealism, the book adopts a realpolitik appreciation for social policy.

Written by one of the most respected academics of U.S. social policy, this book will be required reading for all undergraduate and postgraduate students of social policy, social work, sociology, and U.S. politics more broadly.

This book identifies specific changes to bring US social policy in accord with the information age of the 21st century, in contrast to the policy infrastructure of industrial America.

Prologue: Mary and Her Baby Chapter 1: Crisis Chapter 2: Forsaking African Americans Chapter 3: Framing the Welfare State Chapter 4: Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty Chapter 5: Convolution Chapter 6: The Problem from Purgatory Chapter 7: Policy Paradigms Chapter 8: Consolidate Programs Chapter 9: Harmonize Applications Chapter 10: Expand Equity Chapter 11: Conduct Experiments Chapter 12: Inflection Acknowledgments Index