Public and Private Assistance in the United States Since the Great Depression

Bc. Mária Šenšelová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Tato diplomová práce je porovnávací studií veřejné a soukromé asistence, poskytované potřebným rodinám v USA od Velké hospodářské krize. První část práce popisuje začátek spolupráce mezi veřejným a soukromým sektorem. Zkoumá rozdílné role, které oba sektory hrály ve třech zásadních dekádách - ve 30., 60., a 90. letech 20. století, a také jak usilovaly o vyrovnání se s problémem chudoby. Druhá část práce je zaměřena na vybraný sociální program Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) a neziskovou organizaci United Way of America (UWA), přičemž analyzuje strategie, které tyto instituce používají k redukci chudoby mezi americkými občany.

Abstract:

This diploma thesis is a comparative study of public and private assistance provided to needy families in the United States since the Great Depression. The first part of the thesis traces the beginning of the cooperation between public and private sectors. It examines different roles that both sectors played in three crucial decades – 1930s, 1960s, and 1990s, and how they endeavored to cope with the problem of poverty. The second part of the thesis focuses on a selected welfare program called Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) and a nonprofit organization called United Way of America (UWA), and analyzes strategies that are employed by these two institutions to reduce poverty among American citizens.

Keywords

welfare system, public sector, private sector, poverty, Temporary Aid for Needy Families, United Way of America

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 19. 5. 2014

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 11. 6. 2014
• Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Tomáš Pospíšil, Ph.D.
• Reader: B.A. Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Teacher Training for Secondary Schools / Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in English Language and Literature