CAN WE PUT POOR MEN TO WORK?

Compared with Britain, welfare reform in the United States has relied less on incentives and more on administrative work tests. Parallel to welfare reform, American states have begun requiring men to work who owe child support or are on parole from prison. Evaluations of men's work programmes to date are encouraging, but implementing these programmes is demanding. The federal government should promote their further expansion and evaluation. Britain has yet to take serious steps in the same directions.