Much could be gained from the privatization of social security--but can the gains actually be delivered? Dixon, Hyde, and their contributing authors take a balanced look at where we are now, and where we seem to be moving, on the issues of social security privatization and come up skeptical. There will be tradeoffs, but will the benefits outweigh the costs? Their volume examines a variety of settings in Latin America, Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa, where the marketization of social security appears most hotly contested. As a contribution to this new, energetic gobal policy discourse, the book will be of special interest to policymakers in the public and private sectors, and particularly in organizations where concerns about the growing cost of employee benefits have become critical.

Dixon, Hyde, and the others start by showing how the concept of social security has changed dramatically over the last 20 years--not just in the United States but throughout the world. The collectivist ideology that has long underpinned social security policy has been challenged by the emergence of an ideology of individualism. But can one presume that the desires of government to privatize are driven purely by the need to achieve neoliberal policy goals by that means? Too simplistic, say the contributors. Marketization offers the promise of reduced dependency on the state, reduced public expenditure and thus lower taxes, enhanced competitiveness internationally, more efficient delivery of social security services, and other advantages--but whether these promises would be kept seems to depend on a variety of factors. Among them, explored in this volume, are the level of development and sophistication of the capital markets, the degree of market competition that can be achieved and sustained, and the capacity of the state to develop and implement governance mechanisms to ensure that private providers act in the public interest. The volume also examines two daunting challenges to governments: how to design a set of regulations that can protect the public interest in perpetuity, and how to resist the calls for government subsidies to support the economic rent expectations of privatized providers. The contributors and editors develop these and other points concisely and readably, and in doing so offer important lessons from the experiences of others worldwide.

Social policy in East and West finds itself today in the middle of a fundamental transition. The former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the successor states to the former Soviet Union are attempting to create the institutions needed for a modern market economy and a modern democratic welfare state. At the same time, the mature welfare states of Europe are struggling to solve the contemporary financial crisis of their systems of social entitlements. Because of fundamental economic and demographic trends, these systems will become increasingly difficult to sustain over the coming decades. The contributors overwhelmingly agree that it would be mistaken policy to simply copy the institutions of Western welfare states to the eastern economies in transition. Instead one can learn much from the experience gathered over the past half century in Western welfare states.

"Investigates the transformation of German labour market policy, showing that Germany has departed from the conservative-corporatist path of welfare, especially with the Hartz Legislation of the Red-Green government"--

The contributions in this book shed an innovating light on a topic of major scientific, as well as practical, interest that has seldom been dealt with in a comprehensive way: the relations between EU and non-EU countries and nationals, as far as social security is concerned. First, the internal co-ordination of the EU in relation to third country nationals is analyzed. The ways the social security systems of the EU Member States are being co-ordinated with those of the Mediterranean emigration countries are also examined. Additionally, the EU European Free Trade Association's social security arrangements are explored. An overview of the complex landscape of the existing bilateral and multilateral social security instruments binding EU states and non-EU states is provided. Finally, the book deals with the European and international law applicable to the social security of illegal foreign workers. These contributions were presented at a conference held in April 2009 in Leuven, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Master of European Social Security.

This volume offers a comprehensive examination of current theory, research, and practice concerning people with serious mental illness and their families. There are presently many exciting developments under way, as professional practice is reformulated to emphasize the contributions of psychologists to the treatment of mental illness and the satisfactions that can accompany clinical work with the population. The current era is a transitional one in many respects, with significant changes in mental health policies and priorities, and in clinical training and practice. This work charts these new developments and explores their implications for mental health professionals.

Minimum income protection provides the last social safety net for people in need. The book provides a systematic comparative and longitudinal analysis of minimum income protection systems in 17 EU countries based on a newly developed dataset. Country-specific chapters providing institutional overviews are combined with comparative quantitative indicators on issues such as benefit levels, expenditures and beneficiaries. The book will be of major interest to researchers, scholars and experts in income protection, poverty and the welfare state.

This handbook is a one-stop forum for nonpartisan discussion of the major proposals for addressing Social Security's coming financial crisis. This timely volume details the history and development of the American system of Social Security and examines the serious problems it faces. It covers the "prehistory" of Social Security dating back to the 19th century and projects the program's likely future over the next several generations. Thematically, the book chronicles the origination of the initial Social Security Act of 1935, each major reform to the act through today, the nature and magnitude of the current difficulty facing Social Security, and each major remedy that has been proposed. It also examines programs in other nations and how they have attempted to address similar problems. This handbook is essential reading for anyone trying to understand how this vital program evolved and where it could be going. Provides charts and graphs, including a graphic display of the likely future of the Social Security Trust Fund, a sketch of a financial portrait of Social Security, and the impact of potential reforms Includes a list of key terms, such as "pay-as-you-go" and "means testing," making the language of Social Security reform accessible to every reader

Social protection systems in Latin America developed in a fragmented manner, offering varying access to benefits and benefit levels to population groups. In the context of widespread informal and precarious work, social insurance institutions could only provide limited coverage. In this context, progress toward a Citizen's Income policy in Latin America depends on the possibility of reappraising its importance for an integrated institutional system which promotes the empowerment and economic independence of people. A Citizen's Income policy is not only a cash transfer to alleviate poverty or a basic income for food. It is a basic right to improve democracy and encourage a more autonomous development of people living in profoundly unequal societies.

This book traces the origins of the German welfare state. The author, formerly director at the Max-Planck-Institute for European Legal History, Frankfurt, provides a perceptive overview of the history of social security and social welfare in Germany from early modern times to the end of World War II, including Bismarck's pioneering introduction of social insurance in the 1880s. The author unravels "layers" of social security that have piled up in the course of history and, so he argues, still linger in the present-day welfare state. The account begins with the first efforts by public authorities to regulate poverty and then proceeds to the "social question" that arose during the 19th-century Industrial Revolution. World War I had a major impact on the development of social security, both during the war and after, through the exigencies of the war economy, inflation and unemployment. The ruptures as well as the continuities of social policy under National Socialism and World War II are also investigated.

Learn how to develop and teach effective courses on the vital issues of family lifeThe Craft of Teaching About Families presents a variety of course designs, evaluation methods, and teaching techniques and strategies that can be used to address the complexities of family life. This unique book prepares students for the challenges theyOCOll face as they leave the campus for the classroom, providing them with the problem-solving skills theyOCOll need for success. The bookOCOs contributors?a distinguished panel of family scientists, sociologists, public policy analysts, psychologists, and extension specialists?examine a range of topics, including family law and policy, advocacy, parenting skills, international families, and diversity.One of the few books geared to teaching family studies, particularly family policy and family law, The Craft of Teaching About Families reaffirms the importance of teaching in a time when controversial family issues receive constant attention from the media, the courts, and the legislatures. In addition to articles on family policy, family law, marriage and the family, family interaction and dynamics, and cultural diversity, the book addresses empirical assessments of internships and service learning activities in family-oriented courses, the effectiveness of various teaching strategies, including role-playing, classroom simulations, and Web-based assignments. Divided into three sections for ease of use, The Craft of Teaching About Families examines: "Family Law and Family Policy" how to build writing skills through the preparation of court briefs and policy memos how to use cooperative learning research teams to teach family law how to design better courses by understanding studentsOCO perceptions of family policy issues how cooperative extension can help involve families in the policymaking process"Family Dynamics" how to develop a course in father-daughter relationships how to incorporate parenting education workshops into a parent-child relationship course how to prepare students to become competent multicultural educators how to develop a course on international families from a family strengths perspective how to develop a new framework for teaching family resources management"Teaching Techniques in Family Science" how to incorporate effective role-playing into the syllabus how to use small-group work to create a positive experience in the classroom how to educate future teachers about psychological abuse how to teach students about forgiveness toward those who have hurt them how to analyze the results of service-learning assignments in family diversityThe Craft of Teaching About Families is an essential resource for professionals who teach about individuals and families at any level, in any setting?formal or informal."

Empirical research that describes ways to best handle social problems concerning families Leading authorities' studies show that from the effects of globalization many social and family problems and their solutions tend to be similar in nations world-wide. Families and Social Policy: National and International Perspectives explores the latest research on the impact of government policyor lack of policyon family life in various developed and developing nations around the world. Leading experts present and analyze strong empirical research on the common issues confronting families caused by effective and ineffective social policies around the world. This text illuminates the many complexities of various problems to shine a valuable light on what may be effective policy for the world. Families and Social Policy presents multiple perspectives on the profound family and social issues triggered by political policies. Timely data-driven research on family policy, welfare, and work policy issues highlight the comparative analyses between nations and common family problems. Family responsibility issues, childcare, and welfare are explored from both micro and macro perspectives. Useful tables clearly present empirical data. Extensive references are provided for each chapter. Topics in Families and Social Policy include: the impact of job loss on families poor families in the welfare system consequences of policies based on false assumptions the impact of globalization on child care the impact of child support and custody laws on fathers fathers and parental leave elder care in government policy government support in family care of dependents a case study for paid leave to care for newborns social policy influence on women's fertility decisions policies supportive of maternal employment a cross-national exploration of family policies leave and daycare policies in Poland and the Czech Republic after the fall of communism childcare policy in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom Norway's gender equality, work load, and family dynamics policiesand the persistent traditional gender divide and more! Families and Social Policy comprehensively examines the effects of the political process on family life in developed and developing nations, making it stimulating, informative reading for upper-level undergraduate students, graduate students, academic researchers, policymakers, journalists, and independent scholars.

Empirical research that describes ways to best handle social problems concerning families Leading authorities' studies show that from the effects of globalization many social and family problems and their solutions tend to be similar in nations world-wide. Families and Social Policy: National and International Perspectives explores the latest research on the impact of government policyor lack of policyon family life in various developed and developing nations around the world. Leading experts present and analyze strong empirical research on the common issues confronting families caused by effective and ineffective social policies around the world. This text illuminates the many complexities of various problems to shine a valuable light on what may be effective policy for the world. Families and Social Policy presents multiple perspectives on the profound family and social issues triggered by political policies. Timely data-driven research on family policy, welfare, and work policy issues highlight the comparative analyses between nations and common family problems. Family responsibility issues, childcare, and welfare are explored from both micro and macro perspectives. Useful tables clearly present empirical data. Extensive references are provided for each chapter. Topics in Families and Social Policy include: the impact of job loss on families poor families in the welfare system consequences of policies based on false assumptions the impact of globalization on child care the impact of child support and custody laws on fathers fathers and parental leave elder care in government policy government support in family care of dependents a case study for paid leave to care for newborns social policy influence on women's fertility decisions policies supportive of maternal employment a cross-national exploration of family policies leave and daycare policies in Poland and the Czech Republic after the fall of communism childcare policy in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom Norway's gender equality, work load, and family dynamics policiesand the persistent traditional gender divide and more! Families and Social Policy comprehensively examines the effects of the political process on family life in developed and developing nations, making it stimulating, informative reading for upper-level undergraduate students, graduate students, academic researchers, policymakers, journalists, and independent scholars.

The turn of the century has seen a proliferation of concepts and models in relation to the development of new residential environments in the UK. "Housing Transformations "describes these concepts and models and accounts for their emergence at the present time, at the conjuncture of a particular set of cultural, social, economic and political circumstances. Franklin explains the variety and nature of the built form, and tries to achieve a greater insight into how and why we build places and dwell in spaces that are at once contradictory, confining, liberating and illuminating. The shaping and re-shaping of the built environment derives from the intersection of locality and timing: the structural context, the mediating role of institutions and organizations, and the actions and proclivities of individuals. The author includes numerous case studies to show the background to provide specific examples of contemporary conditions. Housing Transformations will appeal to all those in the built environmentdisciplines, as well as to those in other social science fields with an interest in housing and residential environments.

Make your marriage and family programs more relevant by making them cross-culturally sensitive International Family Studies: Developing Curricula and Teaching Tools offers a collection of innovative ideas and resources for educators who wish to enhance the international content of their human development and family science curriculum. Contributors share their experiences of transforming department commitments, modifying existing and/or creating new courses, developing stimulating exercises and projects, capitalizing on existing faculty development programs to enhance educators' own international understanding, partnering with universities overseas, and utilizing existing institutional structures to incorporate international study-abroad opportunities and internships for students. The book presents teaching tools and techniques, specific resources, and theoretical models for use in family studies, human development, and social science programs. International Family Studies: Developing Curricula and Teaching Tools promotes cross-cultural competence and global understandingessential ingredients for the success of future family professionals. The book is devoted to fostering knowledge and skills critical for breaking down barriers and expanding cultural knowledge in an effort to better prepare students to work with ethnically and culturally diverse families. International Family Studies: Developing Curricula and Teaching Tools examines: planning, implementing, and evaluating an innovative diversity curriculum knowledge and skills needed to work effectively with ethnically and culturally diverse families teaching techniques that can be incorporated in the classroom to enhance greater cultural understanding the use of student group presentations, technology, and books projects to teach about culturally diverse families issues of cultural competence, cultural sensitivity, and respect for diversity experiential opportunities abroad for students and faculty and much more International Family Studies: Developing Curricula and Teaching Tools is an essential resource for educators training the next generation of family professionals.

A uniquely hybrid approach to welfare state policy, ecological sustainability and social transformation, this book explores transformative models of welfare change. Using Ireland as a case study, it addresses the institutional adaptations needed to move towards a sustainable welfare state, and the policy of making such transformation happen. It takes a theoretical and practical approach to implementing an alternative paradigm for welfare in the context of globalisation, climate change, social cohesion, automation, economic and power inequalities, intersectionality, and environmental sustainability, as well as perpetual crisis, including the pandemic.

This book sets out to investigate the relationship between crime and the design and planning of housing, and to produce practical recommendations to help architects and planners to reduce crime. The book builds upon and updates research originally published in Crime Free Housing (1991), providing an easily accessible, high quality, and well presented account of crime and housing layout. The book focuses on strategies for reducing four different types of crime through better design, including: Burglarydiscouraging people from trying to break into houses; Car crimeproviding a safe place to park cars; Theft around the homeprotecting the front of the house, as well as items in gardens, sheds, and garages; Criminal damageminimizing malicious damage to property.

Over the past 75 years, household income in the United States has increased substantially. Still, by some measures, income inequality has increased as well. This has been the subject of contested public policy and political discourse. The question still stands: How can we better articulate the nuanced changes in American incomes? It is difficult to have conversations about income inequality without an agreed-upon set of terms, metrics, and concepts. United States Income, Wealth, Consumption, and Inequality, edited by Diana Furchtgott-Roth, examines the trends in income growth in the United States and explores various measures of income, including market, post-tax, and post-transfer income. Within each chapter, distinguished experts explain how income and wealth-and the way we measure them-have changed in the United States, which demographic groups have benefited from these changes, and how mobility has changed over time and over generations. Specific chapters explain the roles of gender and race. The resulting book is relevant to modern international policy, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and addresses what can be done to increase economic mobility in the United States.

The Nordic welfare states have found themselves in the firing line of post-industrial developments, resulting in fundamental changes in societal institutions at all levels. In particular, changes in the labour market and family, reinforced by processes of migration and international market integration, have presented the welfare states with new social needs to attend to. This book critically explores responses to changing social risks across areas such as structural unemployment, entrepreneurship, immigration, single parenthood, education and health. It explores critical changes in the structure of the Nordic welfare states and the social policy strategies for alleviating social risks. While the Nordic countries are shining in most international comparisons, such changes and their wider implications have often been overlooked in the literature. The book raises the question whether certain risks are even being evoked actively through new social policies instating incentive structures concomitant with policy goals in order to encourage certain behaviour among citizens.

The provision and management of social housing for those who are unable to access the housing market is essential to the maintenance of the fabric of society. The social housing industry is vast and still growing. There are very few countries in the world where some form of subsidised housing does not exist, and the total number of social homes is likely to grow worldwide, as are the challenges of the sector. Paul Reeves takes a people-centred approach to the subject, describing the themes that have run through provision of social housing from the first philanthropic industrialists in the 19th Century though to the increasingly complex mixture of ownerships and tenures in the present day. The management of housing forms a key part of the book, with an emphasis on the practical aspects of tenant participation and multi-agency working. The book is ideal for students of housing and social policy, and for housing professionals aiming to obtain qualifications and wanting a broad understanding of the social housing sector.

The first monograph on this topic since 1961, this book provides an innovative interpretation of the Friendly Societies in Britain from the perspectives on social, gender and political history. It establishes the central role of the Friendly Societies in the political activism of British workers, changing understandings of masculinity and femininity, the ritualized expression of social tensions and the origins of the welfare state.

There are many facets of housing pressure in rural areas, not all of which are the consequences of economic or market forces. Changing demographics and migration; cultural and societal attitudes towards rural and urban living and property acquisition; land use planning regulatory controls; the difficulty of securing affordable housing provision; a desirability for urban containment and countryside protection; the decline of traditional rural employment; the closure or absence of rural services; community uncertainty and social exclusion; and the constant environmental and social pressure placed on rural areas by tourism and economic development, will each affect the prosperity of rural dwellers and affect rural space and residential property. Many of these issues will be evident in most countries; other countries may experience one set of pressure problems.
Housing in the European Countryside provides an overview of the housing pressures and policy challenges facing Europe, while highlighting critical differences. By drawing on contemporary research work of leading authors in the fields of housing studies, rural geography and planning, the book offers an introduction to housing issues across the European countryside for those who have hitherto been unexposed to such concerns, and who wish to gain some basic insight.
This in-depth review of housing pressure in the European countryside will reveal both the form, nature and variety of problems now being experienced in different parts of Europe, in addition to outlining policy solutions that are being provided by member states and other agencies in meeting the rural housing challenge at this time and in the years ahead.

A fundamental handbook to the family health model Family Health Social Work Practice: A Knowledge and Skills Casebook is a comprehensive guide to an emerging practice paradigm in the social work field. Edited by pioneers of the family health approach (who also contribute several chapters each), this book introduces the theoretical model and skills of the practice, including a framework for developing a family health intervention plan, illustrated by case scenarios. Issues vital to any family health intervention are addressed in 10 case studies that further explain the application of the practice model. Family Health Social Work Practice stresses a holistic orientation to assessment and intervention from a health perspective that includes the physical, mental, emotional, social, economic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of family life. With its focus on practice theories, practical information, and evaluation strategies, the book provides a strong foundation for skills development in the family health model. A collection of articles from the leading practitioners and academics in the field gives a thorough and thoughtful examination to issues ranging from domestic violence to substance abuse to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Family Health Social Work Practice also reviews the philosophy behind the family health approach, summarizes its effectiveness, and examines other critical concerns, such as: child maltreatment mental health spiritual diversity aging agency management One of the few casebooks to present practical intervention plans with accompanying case scenarios, Family Health Social Work Practice is an essential resource for students and professionals in the social work and human services disciplines, and an unrivaled reference for libraries. Helpful tables and figures make the information easy to access and understand.

This volume examines parent programs in the context of policy to support families, the disjunction between advocates of parent programs and federal policymakers, federal legislation for parent programs, and programs for parents of preschool children, school-age children, and children with special needs.