STATING THE DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE

POLICIES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND EL SALVADOR.

The United States and El Salvador are different in many ways as in power and status, but
these countries have some points in common like welfare policies, which both of them
have. Although, they can differ in some ways. This essay is going to be about the
comparison and contrast regarding poverty, Social Programs and Educational System
involved in the welfare policy of the United States and the ones involved in El Salvador.

Poverty is a problem that exists in the United States even if it is the most powerful potential
around the world. First, there are different standards of poverty around the world which
depends on some indicators that every state has. In the case of the United States, the
indicator that is used to define poverty is called “poverty line”: is the same as a level of
personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to
governmental standards1 is also known “poverty level”. The poverty line is estimated by
federal government thought the annual cost of thrifty food budget for an urban family of
four, multiplied by three to allow also for the cost of housing, clothes, and other expenses.
Families bellow the poverty line are considered poor and are eligible for certain form of
public assistants. The annual income of family that is around $18,500 was set of the
poverty line in 2003. Second, societies are conformed of different social classes; United
States is no different from all because the low class has similar characteristics. The poor
population in the United States is conformed by different groups such as single parent
family (mostly women), African Americans and Hispanics. In some of the cases this
vulnerable groups are situated in rural areas. Finally, the state needs data to create
specific programs that help people in the different social classes, which will improve their
welfare policy. Nowadays in The United States are 40 million2 of people living under the
poverty line, in comparison white people, more than 20% are African Americas and
Hispanic. The United States spends less on social programs (16.2 percent of GDP) than

1 Merriam Webster Dictionary, The poverty line Available in: https://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/poverty%20line
2 Jay Shambaugh, Estados Unidos: ¿quiénes son los 40 millones de pobres que viven en el país más rico

del mundo?,Available in: https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-internacional-42315879

similarly developed countries (21.3 percent of GDP), has a relative poverty rate (the share
of the population living on less than half of median household income) 1.8 times higher
than those peer nations, and has a child poverty rate more than twice as high 3.

In the case of El Salvador there is not much difference because during the years every
government strives against poverty with the prospect to reduce de gap amidst rich and
poor people. El Salvador unlike the United States has not the same indicators to measure
life standards. Since 2014, the government of El Salvador through “Secretaría Técnica y
de Planificación de la Presidencia” (STPP) and the approbation of the Ley de Desarrollo
y Protección Social (LDPS) created multidimensional measurement of poverty. This
method is made of several factors that constitute poor people’s experience of deprivation
– such as poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standard, lack of income (as
one of several factors considered), disempowerment, poor quality of work and threat from
violence4. In contrast, the poor of El Salvador are not the same as the United States. In
this country, there is not much a diversity of ethnicity like The United States, for that
reason in El Salvador the factors that define poverty are: ages, gender and residence.
Both have highest level of poverty. In this aspect it depends of the point of view, because
El Salvador is smaller than The United States for that reason populations are different. If
we use the three categories mentioned, in El Salvador 64.3% of poor live in rural areas,
68.6% are men and 50.7% has between 25 – 59 years5.

Welfare policy in the United States encompasses different social programs that are
directive to a certain citizen. As a first point, the United States has a specific concept of
“Social Welfare policy”. That concept refers to those effort by government to help
individuals meet their basic human needs, including food, clothing, and shelter. In its
most basic form, social policy incorporates five core characteristics. First, policy is the
formal expression of a community’s values, principles, and beliefs. Second, these values,

3The State of Working America, Poverty, Available in: http://www.stateofworkingamerica.org/fact-

sheets/poverty/
4 Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), Policy – A multidimensional approach,
Available in: https://ophi.org.uk/policy/multidimensional-poverty-index/
5
Jessica Guzmán, El Salvador El 34 % de salvadoreños vive on condición de pobreza, , June 23, 2017
Available in: https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/365921/el-34-de-salvadorenos-vive-en-condicion-de-
pobreza/
principles, and beliefs become reality through a program and its resulting services. Third,
policy provides legitimacy and sanctions an organization to provide a particular program
or service. Fourth, policy offers a roadmap for an organization to realize its mission. Fifth,
policy creates the broad structural framework that guides the practitioner in his or her
professional role6. As a second point, the Social Welfare policy of in the United States
divided in two: Social insurances and Public assistant. In a Way, Social insurance can be
defined as: “protection of the individual against economic hazards (such as
unemployment, old age, or disability) in which the government participates or enforces
the participation of employers and affected individuals”7; on the other hand, Public
assistant means: “A system providing welfare services, instituted by the state and federal
government. Services are provided to the elderly, disabled people, and low-income
families”8. As a last point, there is a divergence between Social Insurances and public
assistant and how there are composed. The first type is Social Insurance which includes:
Social security, Unemployment Insurance, and Medicare. The first concept can be
defined as an insurance benefit that retiring workers had earned through their payroll
taxes. The second concept, which is Unemployment Insurance, can be defined as the
payroll taxes that fund unemployment benefits collected by the federal government. The
last concept being Medicare can be defined as a program that provides medical
assistance to retirees, and like the others, it is funded primarily through payroll taxes. The
second type include: Supplement security income (SSI), Aid to Needy Families, Food
stamps, Subsidized housing, and Medicaid. The first program consists in giving federal
assistance to the blind and elderly poor as a part of the Social Security Act of 1935. The
second program was created in the 1930s as survivors’ insurance to assist children
whose fathers had died prematurely. The Food stamps program fully funded by the
federal government, took its present form in 1961 and consists in providing food stamps
that can be spent only on grocery items. The Subsidized housing program consists in

6 Ira C. Colby, Social Work Education: Social Welfare Policy, Available in:
http://socialwork.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore9780199975839
-e-619
7Op. Cit. P.1
8Business Dictionary, Public Assistant, Available in: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/public-
assistance.html
giving a monthly rent-payment voucher to an individual, who then hands the voucher over
to the government in exchange for cash. The Medicaid program considered a public
assistance rather than a social insurance, consists in providing health care for poor
people who are already on welfare.

Unlikely to El Salvador, nowadays the government incentives some initiative to increase

the number of social programs that contribute the Welfare policy. In comparison with the
United States, El Salvador has a different conception on Welfare Policy. Five-year
development plan defined the Welfare Policy as: “an instrument of social policy based on
the human rights approach that promotes the development of people. Its transversal axes
are the promotion of equity and equality between women and men, and the specificity of
the approach to Lifecycle”9. The Social Welfare of El Salvador is divided in two:
contributive and non-contributive which differs from the United States. The first is
associated with the benefits that people access that are inserted in the formal labor
market and that is expressed in access to certain social security instruments. The second
refers to the non-contributory benefits that are granted the population in a situation of
greater vulnerability, poverty and social exclusion through policies, strategies and policy
actions to equip you with skills to manage the risks you face in everyday life10. As well as
the United States, El Salvador has similar Social Welfare programs, the most important
are: Temporary Income Support Program; Arises within the framework of the Anti-Crisis
Plan and seeks to temporarily meet the demands of the vulnerable population of urban
areas in the country, whose situation is disadvantageous and precarious. The Solidarity
Network program; based on the spirit of Solidarity, is based on the principles of equity,
focus on groups at risk, integral actions and above all transparency in management and
selection. Universal Basic Pension for the Elderly; It is a component of the
Comprehensive Program for the Care of the Elderly Person and consists of a monthly
support of $ 50 dollars from the government of El Salvador to adults over 70 years of age
and older residing in any of the 100 municipalities of severe / high extreme poverty.
Solidarity Communities; this strategy of the Universal Social Protection System includes

9 Thomas E. Patterson, American Democracy. Chapter 16.

10 Ibidem
non-contributory interventions that allow the expansion of basic capacities and the
promotion of equal opportunities for people, communities and households in conditions
of extreme poverty and social exclusion in rural communities and in rural communities
and family. City Woman that is a program of the Government of El Salvador led by the
Secretariat of Social Inclusion through which comprehensive care is provided to women
through specialized services with the aim of improving their quality of life. The Family
Agriculture Program; that is a policy implemented by the Government of El Salvador
through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) since the end of February 2011.
Its main objective is to reduce rural poverty levels through the generation of wealth and
welfare of families that develop Family Agriculture in the prioritized territories. The Social
Housing Program that is a Pilot Program that strengthens the eminently social role of the
FSV, as it aims to provide a housing solution to highly vulnerable and under-resourced
sectors of the population that, under normal conditions, can not access decent housing
for your loved ones.

Education is something very important to the United States and their citizen because they
can not grow without proper education. To begin, the United States is a country that have
one of the best Public Educational System in the world because they invest in it. The US
spends the most per student of any nation in the developed world: $15,171 per student
in 2011. The average in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
was just $9,31311. Then, the role in education of the Federal government is differed than
how it was in the past. The states and local governments are the ones in control of
everything related to education, but the Federal government also play a significant role
implementing educational laws and norms. Finally, I the case of the United States, they
only have one program which is Head Start, that is a program of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive education,
health, nutrition, and early childhood parental involvement services for low-income
children and their families

11
Libby Nelson, America spends more than $600 billion on schools. Here's where it goes and why it matters,
Mar 25, 2015, 8:00am, Available in: https://www.vox.com/2015/3/25/8284637/school-spending-US
In the case of El Salvador, education is not as important as in the United States because
they do not invest as much money as in other programs. Comparing El Salvador’s Public
Educational System with the one from the United States, it differs how much each country
invests in their respective system. The education budget has changed from 944 million
dollars in 2017 to 932 million dollars in 201812. Currently, the budget destined for
education is one of the lowest compared to the rest in the Central America region which
represents the 3.2% of the GDP. The Public Educational system has always been linked
with the government and has never suffered any changes in comparison with The Unite
States. Since the educational system was created, El Salvador has always been linked
to the government which caused limited decisions to the educational centres and
municipalities. Contrasting El Salvador to the United States, the first country mentioned
has four more programs which are: Bonus Of Education, The Community Participation
Education Program (EDUCO), School package program, and School Feeding Program.
Bonus Of Education; Like the Temporary Income Support Program, the first axis of Urban
Solidarity Communities also includes the Education Bonus. The Community Participation
Education Program (EDUCO) in El Salvador began in 1991 in response to initiatives by
the State and local communities that sought to create preschool education services and
basic in rural areas. School package program that is for Endowment of Uniforms, Shoes
and School Supplies for Students in Early Childhood Education and Basic Education in
the Public Sector. School Feeding Program that is a program that seeks to improve the
nutritional status of the students in order to promote better learning conditions.

In conclusion, it is important to recognize that even though United States and El Salvador
have welfare policy, in El Salvador every person can benefit of the welfare programs but
in The United States just the ones that have the criteria required can benefit of them. The
concept of it differ to one another. Not only the concept of welfare policy but also poverty,
what is poor in one country is different in the other. Even the importance of education is
more in one country than the other, that can be seen in the investment they apport.

12Jimmy Alvarado, Cada año hay menos presupuesto para salvar la educación, Decembre 7. 2017,
Available in: https://elfaro.net/es/201712/el_salvador/21219/Cada-a%C3%B1o-hay-menos-presupuesto-
para-salvar-la-educaci%C3%B3n.htm
Everything points to the same that is that both countries have almost the same in name
but deep down its different in terms of concept and procedures.
 OUTLINE

Title: Stating the differences and similarities of the social welfare policies between the
United States and El Salvador.

I. INTRODUCTION

Introduction opener: The United States and El Salvador are different in many ways as
in power and status, but these countries have some points in common like welfare policies,
which both of them have. Although, they can differ in some ways.

Thesis statement: This essay is going to be about the comparison and contrast regarding
poverty, Social Programs and Educational System involved in the welfare policy of the
United States and the ones involved in El Salvador.

II. BODY PARAGRAPH 1:

Topic sentence: Poverty is a problem that exist in United States even if it is the most
powerful potential around the world.

 Detail 1: First, there are different standards of poverty around the world which depend on
some indicators that every state has.
 Detail 2: Second, societies are conformed of different social classes; United States is no
different from all because the low class has similar characteristics.
 Detail 3: Finally, the state needs data to create specific programs that help people in the
different social classes, which will improve their welfare policy.

lll. BODY PARAGRAPH 2:

Topic sentence: in the case of El Salvador there is not much difference because during the
years every government strives against poverty with the prospect to reduce de gap amidst
rich and poor people.

 Detail 1: El Salvador likewise the United States have the same indicators to measure life
standards.
 Detail 2: In contrast, the poor of El Salvador are not the same as the United States.
 Detail 3: Both, have highest level of poverty.

lV. BODY PARAGRAPH 3:

Topic sentence: Welfare policy in the United States encompasses different social programs
that are directive to a certain citizen.

 Detail 1: As a first point, the United States has a specific concept of “Social Welfare policy”
 Detail 2: As a second point, the Social Welfare policy of in the United States is the divide
in two: Social insurances and public assistant.
 Detail 3: As a last point, there is a divergence between Social insurances and public
assistant and how there are composes.

V. BODY PARAGRAPH 4:
Topic sentence: Unlikely to El Salvador, nowadays the government incentive some initiative
to increase the number of social programs that contribute the Welfare policy.
  Detail 1: In comparison with the United States, El Salvador has a different conception on
Welfare Policy.
 Detail 2: The Social Welfare of El Salvador is divided in two: contributive and non –
contributive which differs from the United States
 Detail 3: As well as the United States, El Salvador has similar Social Welfare
programs, the most important are.

Vl. BODY PARAGRAPH 5:

Topic sentence: Education is something very important to the United States and their citizen
because they can not grow without proper education.

 Detail 1: To begin, the United States is a country that have one of the best Public
Educational System in the world because they invest in it.
 Detail 2: Then, the role in education of the Federal government is differed than how it was
in the past,
 Detail 3: Finally, I the case of the United States, they only have one program which is
Head Start.

Vll. BODY PARAGRAPH 6:

Topic sentence: In the case of El Salvador, education is not as important as in the United
States because they do not invest as much money as in other programs.

 Detail 1: Comparing El Salvador’s Public Educational System with the one from the United
States, it differs how much each country invests in their respective system.
 Detail 2: The Public Educational system has always been linked with the government and
has never suffered any changes.
 Detail 3: Contrasting El Salvador to the United States, the first country mentioned has four
more programs which are:

VIII. CONCLUSION
Thesis restatement: In conclusion, it is important to recognize that even though United States
and El Salvador have welfare policy, in El Salvador every person can benefit
of the welfare programs but in The United States just the ones that have the
criteria required can benefit of them
Final remarks: The concept of it differ to one another. Not only the concept of welfare policy
but also poverty, what is poor in one country is different in the other. Even
the importance of education is more in one country than the other, that can
be seen in the investment they apport. Everything points to the same that is
that both countries have almost the same in name but deep down its different
in terms of concept and procedures.