The U.S.social welfare system differs markedly from those of Western European democracies,a situation that is attributable in large part to America's

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The U.S. social welfare system differs from those of Western European democracies due to America's cultural emphasis on individualism and federal system of government. The American exceptionalism rests on the belief that individual effort, self-reliance, and personal responsibility are more important than collectivism and solidarity, which are at the core of European welfare systems. The federal system of government decentralized power, constraining the national government's ability to enact comprehensive, uniform social policies, while individualistic cultural norms led to stigmatization of welfare recipients, more restrictive eligibility criteria, and lower benefits.

The USSocial Welfare System Differs Markedly from Those of Western European