Welfare
A term used, particularly in America, for social benefits to help people who are unemployed, sick, retired or have low incomes. Before the 20th century, welfare benefits were low and designed to discourage the “undeserving poor” from applying. But the Great Depression demonstrated the need for social benefits and developed economies built “welfare states” after the second world war. In 2019 welfare spending averaged around 20% of GDP across the OECD.
