The Redistributive Properties of the Social Security Act of 1935

Authors

Jordan Gagnon, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityFollow

Abstract

This paper will evaluate the current theories of intent and functioning for the Social Security Act of 1935, and from there propose a hypothesis of the act as a distributive system functioning as redistributive from the start. It will analyze this through generated information and data from the United States Census Bureau. Three studies are analyzed to look at trends over twenty-five years of program action. One test on the national budget deficit and two tests on social security benefits as a percentage of poverty threshold and income. The findings portray trends in the early years of the program that could suggest a growing level of redistribution from the beginning of Social Security payouts in 1940.

Recommended Citation

Gagnon, Jordan (2017) "The Redistributive Properties of the Social Security Act of 1935," Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 22
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol22/iss1/10