Relief Spending Rises examines the surge in U.S. federal relief spending during the Great Depression, particularly up to 1935, offering a crucial perspective on the New Deal era and its implications for modern U.S. fiscal policy.
The book meticulously analyzes congressional budget records to quantify this unprecedented fiscal expansion.
One intriguing insight is how the Hoover administration's initial, limited interventions inadvertently paved the way for Roosevelt's more expansive social safety nets.
Understanding this transition illuminates current debates about government intervention in economic crises and the role of federal aid.
The book adopts a balanced quantitative and qualitative approach, dissecting specific expenditure categories and tracing the growth of programs like FERA and PWA across chapters.
It explores the evolving political ideologies that shaped the New Deal, contrasting conservative laissez-faire approaches with interventionist stances.
By analyzing digitized budget records alongside congressional debates and contemporary accounts, Relief Spending Rises argues that the dramatic increase in federal relief spending fundamentally reshaped the relationship between the government and its citizens, establishing a precedent for ongoing federal responsibility in providing a safety net.
