Since the US has essentially no social safety net to speak of, the primary source of welfare ends up being workplace injury-related benefits. This produces a po

Since the US has essentially no social safety net to speak of, the primary source of welfare ends up being workplace injury-related benefits. This produces a powerful secondary-gain situation that incentivizes injury for those who work physical jobs. I don't think people intentionally get hurt of course, but rather when they do sustain an injury it becomes economically advantageous to prolong it as much as possible since the job is hard and their pay for working is so low. Usually it's the only way for menial laborers to get a paid vacation, and (sadly) getting permanent disability benefits is like early retirement. Well put. This was a topic explored in detail by This American Life (with Planet Money) in the episode Trends With Benefits: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/490/trends-with-benefits http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/490/t... You've articulated nicely the conclusion I drew listening there (and, well, I'm sure they articulated pretty well themselves.)