Quick Look at Welfare Spending Spending on welfare programs, as a fraction of gdp has more than double in the past 30 years The role of direct cash assistance has diminished. however. Subsidized health care has grown enormously3 Quick Look at Welfare Spending • Spending on welfare programs, as a fraction of GDP, has more than double in the past 30 years. • The role of direct cash assistance has diminished, however. Subsidized health care has grown enormously