Chicago Booth Review Podcast What’s wrong with charity?
Mar 13, 2024
Debates on charity focus on financial aid versus self-sufficiency. Cotton Mather's unorthodox views and Franklin/Carnegie's strategic philanthropy are discussed. Carnegie emphasizes narrowing wealth disparity through philanthropy and educational endowments.
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Deserving vs. Undeserving Poor
- The Victorian era distinguished between the deserving and undeserving poor.
- This distinction, though with different language, persists today, influencing welfare debates.
Handouts vs. Hand-Ups
- Some believe helping the poor means providing opportunities, not handouts.
- This view underlies campaigns to limit welfare, encouraging work.
Pope Francis on Handouts
- Pope Francis defended handouts, even if used for non-essential purchases.
- He prioritized giving freely over judging recipients' choices.