Who Speaks for the Poor: National Interest Groups and Social Policy

Who Speaks for the Poor addresses the central question of how the interests of the poor gain representation in the political process by examining the interest group system. How do the interests of the poor gain representation in the political process? Perceived as uninvolved and virtually powerless, the poor do get attention from policy-makers. Although there is substantial evidence which shows that political participation and influence decrease as socio-economic status decreases, the federal government does have a budget for programs directed at the needs of the poor. R. Allen Hays closely examines this issue asking, "Do the poor speak for themselves in demanding this attention, or do others speak for them? Does government action aimed at the poor flow directly from concerns for their need, or do their needs get met as a byproduct of other concerns?"

R. Allen Hays is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Graduate Program in Public Policy at the University of Northern Iowa.