Urban Economic Development

Abstract

Connecticut's welfare system under TANF is among the nation's harshest with 21 month lifetime limits for cash assistance, a strict work-first policy, and few training options. Various ideological perspectives suggest different policies to address poverty: orthodox economic theory emphasizes human capital enhancement such as training and education; an institutionalist approach emphasizes reducing labor market barriers to equality and provision of decent, stable public service employment; the radical or Marxist lens posits that labor, including those transitioning from welfare, needs to organize for economic and political power. Recent welfare reform embodies a fourth, neoliberal perspective that stresses ‘labor force attachment’ strategies. Regardless of ideology, Connecticut's welfare policy fails both the imperatives of the state economy for better trained workers, and also the needs of those transitioning from welfare. The authors argue for more training and education options, supportive services, economic development policy that incorporates former welfare recipients, union-Louise Simmons is affiliated with University of Connecticut School of Socialization of low wage workers, and strong welfare rights organizations.

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