Regulating the Poor

Why it’s on the list: The 1971 classic arguing that relief rolls expand and contract to manage unrest and enforce low-wage work — welfare read as a labour-discipline instrument.

Where I saw it: Shown on the health-care-and-poverty shelf in the Barnes & Noble Huntington Beach store account’s BookTok video (@bnhuntingtonbeach) — “our personal syllabus for this semester as we say goodbye to tiktok” — saved to Kyle’s Apple Note “Books To Read”. Video: https://www.tiktok.com/@bnhuntingtonbeach/video/7461057163067165982

Connections

• Welfare — the subject.
• Poverty — what the system is aimed at.