Unfocused Altruism: The Impact of Iconography on Charitable Activity

Over the past generation much attention has been paid to the disadvantaged in our society. Public and private programs have been developed to alleviate poverty and allow the underprivileged into the mainstream of society. While much more needs to be done, many of these programs have been highly successful.Unfortunately, many social programs have had perverse consequences for the intended beneficiaries. One example is the debate over differential tuition at State University of New York (SUNY) colleges. Advocates of uniform tuition at SUNY colleges take a position that at first glance appears compassionate, but upon closer examination may actually work against the interests of the low- income students it is meant to help. The purpose of this paper is to show how altruism without rigorous analysis can be dangerous to those in need of assistance. What is important is the effectiveness of public policy initiatives, not their method of delivery.