In this paper we challenge the conventional wisdom that using workfare as a supplementary screening device to means-testing is socially undesirable when the overnment objective is welfarist, namely, to ensure that all members of society will attain some minimal level of utility. Our argument...

In this paper we challenge the conventional wisdom that using workfare as a supplementary screening device to means-testing is socially undesirable when the government objective is welfarist, namely, to ensure that all members of society will attain some minimal level of utility. Our argument...

In this paper we demonstrate that in addition to its acknowledged screening role, workfare—namely, introducing work (or training) requirements for welfare eligibility in means-tested programs—also serves to mitigate income misreporting by welfare claimants. It achieves this goal by...