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The High Cost of Good Intentions: A History of U.S. Federal Entitlement Programs Hardcover – Illustrated, September 26, 2017

by John F. Cogan (Author)

4.7 139 ratings

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Federal entitlement programs are strewn throughout the pages of U.S. history, springing from the noble purpose of assisting people who are destitute through no fault of their own. Yet as federal entitlement programs have grown, so too have their inefficiency and their cost. Neither tax revenues nor revenues generated by the national economy have been able to keep pace with their rising growth, bringing the national debt to a record peacetime level.

The High Cost of Good Intentions is the first comprehensive history of these federal entitlement programs. Combining economics, history, political science, and law, John F. Cogan reveals how the creation of entitlements brings forth a steady march of liberalizing forces that cause entitlement programs to expand. This process―as visible in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as in the present day―is repeated until benefits are extended to nearly all who could be considered eligible, and in turn establishes a new base for future expansions. His work provides a unifying explanation for the evolutionary path that nearly all federal entitlement programs have followed over the past two hundred years, tracing both their shared past and the financial risks they pose for future generations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"John Cogan's book is an extensively researched and unbiased examination of how well-intentioned federal entitlement programs have evolved to become our country's number one fiscal challenge. His timely historical work deepens our understanding of how entitlement programs have grown into a costly burden that we ultimately cannot afford. Cogan makes clear that slowing the growth of entitlements is essential and that meeting this challenge is more about simple arithmetic than ideology. This book should be read by anyone interested in addressing our nation's fiscal and economic future, regardless of their political persuasion." -- Sam Nunn ― former U.S. Senator

"Finally someone has written a comprehensive history of America's efforts to help worthy groups of Americans: the elderly, the veteran, the less fortunate, and the very young. It is a history of ever more generous help to ever larger groups of people. You can agree or disagree with the merit of all these programs, but the cost is clear, and John Cogan shows why that cost has been either ignored or passed to future generations. The first step in fixing our entitlements is knowing their history. Cogan has now given us that history." -- Bill Bradley ― former U.S. Senator

"John Cogan thoroughly reviews one of the greatest challenges facing our country: the unsustainable growth of entitlement spending. He provides a comprehensive view of the issue by looking at the history, the evolution, and the daunting numbers. Cogan brings his extraordinary knowledge and background in economics, fiscal policy, health care, and Social Security to bear in this book to give the reader a full understanding of the roots and the extent of this growing problem that must be tackled." -- Paul D. Ryan ― Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

"John Cogan lays bare the historic roots of the most important economic problem confronting American policymakers today: our runaway entitlements juggernaut. In the past half-century it has consumed ten percentage points of GDP, threatening productivity and economic growth. Cogan does not profess to have found an easy, short-term solution to runaway entitlement growth, but his masterful historical perspective does suggest what must be done sooner, rather than later. This is an important and splendid book." -- Alan Greenspan ― former Chairman of the Federal Reserve of the United States (1987–2006) and former Chairman of the National Commission on Social Security Reform (1983)

"John Cogan gives us a blockbuster treatise on the history of federal entitlement programs. Part education, part cautionary tale, this richly researched book is above all a fascinating and insightful saga on how and why federal entitlements grow. A valuable guide to the future." -- George P. Shultz, Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; former U.S. Secretary of State, Treasury ― and Labor; and former Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget

"The High Cost of Good Intentions is a thoroughly researched, intellectually serious history of every major American entitlement program, from Revolutionary and Civil War pensions to Social Security, food stamps, and Obamacare. I know of no other work that offers such a comprehensive, readable history of the American welfare state." -- R. Shep Melnick ― Claremont Review of Books

"John Cogan's history of federal entitlement programs warns us that the ice we skate on has grown thinner decade by decade....Cogan provides useful case studies of measures that were sensible, self-limiting, and freedom-enhancing like the GI Bill, and current ones that grow as each benefit expansion leads to future entitlements that leave worthy original goals no longer recognizable." -- World Magazine 2017 Books of the Year

"[The book] will surely be of interest to academics, policymakers, and the members of the public with concern for the consequences of entitlements in the United States....[T]his is an easy book to recommend." -- Bill Dupor ― National Association for Business Economics

"People often wonder how "the land of the free" acquired such a huge government that interferes with so many parts of our lives. Cogan has shown how that happened with entitlement programs, which are a huge part of government." -- David R. Henderson ― Regulation

"John F. Cogan handles the historical details of myriad social programs with considerable competence...This book covers subjects missing from the historical literature and generalizes across cases in useful ways. It will surely aid historians as they write about the modern welfare state."––Edward D. Berkowitz, Journal of American History

About the Author

John F. Cogan is the Leonard and Shirley Ely Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a faculty member in Stanford University's Public Policy Program.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stanford University Press; 1st edition (September 26, 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1503603547
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1503603547
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.86 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.4 x 9.1 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #438,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #35 in Social Security (Books)
- #264 in Government Social Policy
- #1,660 in History & Theory of Politics

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4.7 139 ratings

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John F. Cogan

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John F. Cogan is the Leonard and Shirley Ely Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a professor in the Public Policy Program at Stanford University, where he has had a continuing appointment since 1980.

Cogan is an expert in domestic policy. His current research is focused on US budget and fiscal policy, social security, and health care. He has published widely in professional journals in both economics and political science. His most recent book, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Five Steps to a Better Health Care System (Hoover Institution Press, 2011), coauthored with Glenn Hubbard and Daniel Kessler, recommends federal policy changes to improve US health-care markets.

Cogan has devoted a considerable part of his career to public service. He served as assistant secretary for policy in the US Department of Labor from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1986, he served as associate director in the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB). His responsibilities included developing and reviewing all health, housing, education, and employment training programs and policies.

Cogan has served on numerous congressional, presidential, and California state advisory commissions. He served on the California State Commission on the 21st Century Economy and the California Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission. He served on President George W. Bush's Commission to Strengthen Social Security, the US Bipartisan Commission on Health Care (the Pepper Commission), the Social Security Notch Commission, and the National Academy of Sciences' Panel on Poverty and Family Assistance.

Cogan serves on the board of directors of Gilead Sciences and Venture Lending and Leasing. He also serves on the board of trustees of the Charles Schwab Family of Funds and Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton, CA.

Cogan received his AB in 1969 and his PhD in 1976 from the University of California at Los Angeles, both in economics. He was an associate economist at the RAND Corporation from 1975 to 1980. In 1979, Cogan was appointed a national fellow at the Hoover Institution; in 1980 he was appointed a senior research fellow; and in 1984 he became a senior fellow.

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Customers find the book's history well-researched and informative. They describe it as a stimulating read that is understandable to the average reader.

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20 customers mention "History"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's history well-researched and detailed. They say it provides an excellent resource section and is informative about how current entitlement programs started. The book is described as informative, funny, yet powerful, and a must-read for concerned citizens.

"...of entitlements throughout American history is inciteful and informative but not encouraging...." Read more

"...abundant statistical data and a timeline showing how our Federal Government has consistently expanded entitlements far beyond the funds needed to..." Read more

"...The book goes into great detail about how our current entitlement programs started and morphed, but could have spent more time over the recent..." Read more

"...Cogan is thorough, which is needed for such a grave subject as welfare...." Read more

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and understandable for the average reader. They say it's a stimulating read and a real eye-opener about what happens in Congress after a bill is passed.

"...No wonder our nation is trillions of dollars in debt! This is not a quick read - the author has supplied the reader with..." Read more

"...Required reading for all citizens." Read more

"This book is excellent. Well written and the information is great. This really hits home the problems with big government that is power hungry...." Read more

"...how we got to unsustainable trillion dollar deficits, this book is a must read...." Read more

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DG
A great primer for DOGE
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
Verified Purchase

Almost clairvoyant in 2017, the author’s forecast of fiscal Armageddon has proven to be modest-we have blown by his deficit forecasts. Admitting a light salting of political bias, his recitation of entitlements throughout American history is inciteful and informative but not encouraging. Fiscal profligacy seems to be part of our political DNA. His reference to Court entitlement rulings highlights a particular challenge, since the rule of law is the only defense against a tyranny of the majority, and we are not likely to have entitlements reduced by popular demand. We have but one Congress, and they like to spend OPM
in order to get elected. It is hard to see a resolution short of a balanced budget
amendment or a bond market crash.
I was attracted to the title as a source for insight on the challenges for DOGE. I was not disappointed. I recommend the book to anyone who might wish to understand the size of the mountain we are trying to climb.

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Judith A. Sall
A Book Well worth Reading
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
"The High Cost of Good Intentions". is a real eye-opener! I say eye-opener because both political parties have had a hand in expanding the various Federal government entitlement programs, from Veterans Disability programs, to AFDC,Social Security (and Social Security Disability Insurance) ... you name it! No matter what the original intent (or good intentions) of a program, costs were seriously underestimated. Pressures from lobbying groups and political considerations brought about severe liberalizations of the programs, taking them far beyond whatever the original design intended. Anyone hear the term "Creeping Scope" ? Well, Congress falls prey to creeping scope every time! No wonder our nation is trillions of dollars in debt! This is not a quick read - the author has supplied the reader with
abundant statistical data and a timeline showing how our Federal Government has consistently expanded entitlements far beyond the funds needed to stay afloat, fiscally. This book is well worth buying, reading and sharing with others!
This should be every voter’s handbook for putting pressure on our elected Congressional Representatives to change policies that, left intact, will ultimately bankrupt our Nation and leave future generations to try and pick up the pieces. Time for action, and this book gives us the ammunition!

Read more

Judith A. Sall

A Book Well worth Reading

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2019
"The High Cost of Good Intentions". is a real eye-opener! I say eye-opener because both political parties have had a hand in expanding the various Federal government entitlement programs, from Veterans Disability programs, to AFDC,Social Security (and Social Security Disability Insurance) ... you name it! No matter what the original intent (or good intentions) of a program, costs were seriously underestimated. Pressures from lobbying groups and political considerations brought about severe liberalizations of the programs, taking them far beyond whatever the original design intended. Anyone hear the term "Creeping Scope" ? Well, Congress falls prey to creeping scope every time! No wonder our nation is trillions of dollars in debt! This is not a quick read - the author has supplied the reader with
abundant statistical data and a timeline showing how our Federal Government has consistently expanded entitlements far beyond the funds needed to stay afloat, fiscally. This book is well worth buying, reading and sharing with others!
This should be every voter’s handbook for putting pressure on our elected Congressional Representatives to change policies that, left intact, will ultimately bankrupt our Nation and leave future generations to try and pick up the pieces. Time for action, and this book gives us the ammunition!

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Drjackl
A sad testimony to government incompetence
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2017
Verified Purchase
It’s possible to look at the mess were in and attribute it to unintended consequences of well intentioned actions, but the reality is uglier. Politicians and interest groups handed out goodies to get votes. They traded upon emotions to gain support. They did a really horrible job of estimating real costs. Everybody had their hand out. Increased demand and government funding drove up costs. All in all the government did just about everything ring. Now we’re in a fix and the politicians say they can fix it with more government involvement. What are the odds?

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11 people found this helpful

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John C.
Both political parties are to blame for creating our dependancy on federal largesse and neither has the incentive to change
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2017
Verified Purchase
A stunning history of how entitlements developed going back to the revolutionary war to the present time. The pattern has been the same for over 200 years. Start with a noble goal of help to small group of citizens (war veterans, homeless people, poor children, etc) then incrementally expand to include an ever broadening group who eventually have little resemblance to the original group. This creates dependence and expectations that make the over reach impossible to correct. Politicians learned quickly that this was how to build long careers. Accountability and assessment is almost never done. The ineffectiveness of the modern programs to actually achieve their goals is well documented and startling to see.

The book goes into great detail about how our current entitlement programs started and morphed, but could have spent more time over the recent history. ACA and the significant expansion of food stamps, unemployment benefits, and other entitlement/welfare benefits in the past 10 years could have been more thoroughly reviewed. If there was ever a case to support term limits, line item vetoes by presidents and balanced budgets, this book provides all the necessary documentation.

Required reading for all citizens.

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15 people found this helpful

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Marmot Ridge
Very detailed history of how our leaders do not learn.
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
The US government throwing money around in the name of welfare has had quite useless results. More folks, both actual numbers and percentage of the population, are on welfare after four decades of a War on Poverty than when it started. However, throwing out money started shortly after the Revolutionary War.

It did not start with payment to injured soldiers of that war, for that was a truly logical system to help folks who could not make a living due to injury. But the steady erosion of logic for the payment began with what the author shows as corroding every benefit system legislated by the US and State governments. The corrosion consists of the logic that those at the margins who are "no less deserving of aid," and therefore expanding the benefit to cover others. At that point the financial sanity used to bring about the original benefit is trammeled and tossed to the wind, frequently bankrupting the funding of the original benefits. That does no good for those truly in need. That does no good for those who should be working and contributing to society. It does no good to the moral framework that the public see the leaders (unless one is on the receiving end of the largesse.)

Cogan is thorough, which is needed for such a grave subject as welfare. Thorough is also needed for the subject of bankrupting the current major benefits: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare (ACA).

Unfortunately, the average voter will never sit through the five hundred pages of sage advice, hence news sound-bites may doom us to electing the same type of folks who want to give away our future.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A great primer for DOGE

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Well worth Reading

A Book Well worth Reading

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4.0 out of 5 stars A sad testimony to government incompetence

5.0 out of 5 stars Both political parties are to blame for creating our dependancy on federal largesse and neither has the incentive to change

5.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed history of how our leaders do not learn.

A great primer for DOGE

A Book Well worth Reading

A sad testimony to government incompetence

Both political parties are to blame for creating our dependancy on federal largesse and neither has the incentive to change

Very detailed history of how our leaders do not learn.