The price of local discretion: Inequalities in welfare spending within texas

Discretion at the local level in the administration of state or federal programs may generate inequalities in spending among the different localities within a state. Among the counties of Texas, inequalities in welfare programs—Aid to Families with Dependent Children and food stamps—prove substantial, mainly because of variations in rates of participation among the counties. While variables that reflect differences in the conditions for eligibility account for a significant part of the variation, various barriers to participation—including political attitudes, access to welfare offices, and local staffing—are also important. The results suggest that centralized regulation must be retained and strengthened if federal welfare programs are to retain some degree of uniformity within each state.