Social Work Commons^™

Austerity Versus Stimulus: An Introduction To The Special Issue, James Midgley, Howard Karger, Subas Risal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

No abstract provided.

Considering Post-Crisis Stimulus Measures: Welfare Policy And Social Inclusion In Brazil, Lenore E. Matthew

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The onset of the 2007-2008 global financial crisis slowed economic growth in Brazil and threatened the country’s established trajectory of decreasing poverty and inequality. To mitigate prolonged effects of the crisis, leadership implemented a growth-with-equity stimulus plan, of which investment in income augmentation and human capital-building programs for the poor were primary elements. This article examines the economic and social impacts of the stimulus package. It shows that stimulus measures had overall positive effects on the economy, but mixed effects on the well-being of the underprivileged. Improvements in the underprivileged population’s well-being may be less profound than officials have reported, …

Review Of Family Policy And The American Safety Net. Janet Zollinger Giele. Reviewed By Mary Ann Kanieski, Mary Ann Kanieski

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Janet Zollinger Giele, Family Policy and the American Safety Net. Sage (2013). $26 (paperback).

Review Of The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs And The Quest To End Poverty. Nina Munk. Reviewed By Edward U. Murphy, Edward U. Murphy

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Nina Munk, The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty. Doubleday (2013). $15.95 (paperback).

Income Packaging Strategies Of Economically Disconnected Women And The Implications For Social Policy And Practice, Andrea Hetling, Jinwoo Kwon, Elizabeth Mahn

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Income packaging, or piecing together cash and non-cash resources from a variety of sources, is a common financial survival strategy among low-income women. This strategy is particularly important for economically disconnected women, who lack both employment income and public cash assistance receipt. Using data from the confidential Census Bureau versions of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, this study compares the use of public and private supports between disconnected and connected low-income women, controlling for differences in state welfare rules and county unemployment rates. Findings from bivariate comparisons and multilevel logistic regressions indicate that disconnected women utilize public non-cash …

The Consolidation Of The Secondary Financial Services Market, David Stoesz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Stagnant income and persistent debt have induced low- and middle-income households to rely on alternative financial services (AFS): buy-here-pay-here auto loans, check-cashers, payday loans, auto title loans, rent-to-own furniture and appliances, and pawnshops. A secondary financial services market has evolved to serve the secondary labor market, replete with trade associations as well as state and federal regulators. Mainstream financial institutions have marketed innovations, such as reloadable debit cards, to appeal to low- and middle-income consumers. High fees and interest rates of AFS products have fueled a volatile debate about the future of the secondary financial services market, with options including …

The Impact Of Youth Debt On College Graduation, Min Zhan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examines the associations between educational loans and credit card debt with the possibility of college graduation among a group of youth who enrolled in college. It further investigates whether the associations differ by levels of parental assets. Results indicate that, after parental assets and other variables are considered, educational loans are positively related to college graduation; however, there is evidence that educational loans above $10,000 reduce the probability of college graduation. Parental assets are positively linked to youth’s college graduation, and the relationship between educational loans and college graduation is stronger among youth whose families have lower levels …

Deputized Brokers: A Technique For A Case Study Of Conservative Think Tanks In 1990s Welfare Reform, Sergio Romero

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study proposes a novel analytical technique in a case study of think tank brokerage. As brokers, think tanks structurally link foundations and media, yet they do so as representatives of a policy network consisting of corporate funders and affiliated think tanks. Print media sought their policy analysis regarding the welfare system and prescriptions for reform. Network and content methods are the bases for the presentation of the technique. The coupling of results from each of the technique’s components shows how resources tie actors, as well as how their conversion from one form to another is the basis for a …

Review Of Save Our Unions. Steve Early. Reviewed By Luke Elliott-Negri, Luke Elliott-Negri

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Steve Early, Save Our Unions. Monthly Review Press (2013). $19.95 (paperback), 344 pages.

Review Of The Fukushima Dai-Ichi Accident. Peter Bernard Ladkin, Christoph Goeker, And Bernd Sieker (Eds.). Reviewed By Richard York, Richard F. York

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Peter Bernard Ladkin, Christoph Goeker, and Bernd Sieker (Eds.), The Fukushima Dai-Ichi Accident. Lit Verlag (2013). $59.95 (paperback), 291 pages.

Review Of The Divide: American Injustice In The Age Of The Wealth Gap. Matt Taibbi. Reviewed By Marguerite Rosenthal, Marguerite Rosenthal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Matt Taibbi, The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap. Spiegel & Grau (2014). $27 (hardcover), $17 (paperback), 416 pages.

Are Payday Loans Really Evil? Controversy, Regulation, And Innovation In The Secondary Financial Services Market, David Stoesz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Stagnant income and persistent debt have induced low- and middle-income households to rely on alternative financial services (AFS): buy-here-pay-here auto loans, check-cashers, payday loans, auto title loans, rent-to-own furniture and appliances, and pawnshops. A secondary financial services market has evolved to serve the secondary labor market, replete with trade associations as well as state and federal regulators. Mainstream financial institutions have marketed innovations, such as reloadable debit cards, to appeal to low- and middle-income consumers. High fees and interest rates of AFS products have fueled a volatile debate about the future of the secondary financial services market, with options including …

The Relationship Between Empathy And Attitudes Toward Government Intervention, M. Alex Wagaman, Elizabeth A. Segal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Throughout history, government policy and programs have played integral roles in shaping social services. This article reports the findings of a study that explored the relationship between interpersonal empathy and attitudes toward government intervention among college students. Findings suggest that increased levels of empathy are associated with more positive attitudes toward government intervention. This relationship is even stronger for participants from marginalized identity groups. Nurturing empathy among those engaged in social welfare policy-making may support government efforts that are in the best interest of communities they are intended to help.

Review Of Social Policy, Welfare State, And Civil Society In Sweden, Vol. Ii: The Lost World Of Social Democracy, 1988-2015 (3rd Enlarged Edition). Sven E. O. Hort. Reviewed By Marguerite G. Rosenthal, Marguerite G. Rosenthal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

No abstract provided.

Review Of Caring For Our Own: Why There Is No Political Demand For New American Social Welfare Rights. Sandra R. Levitsky. Reviewed By Helen Glikman, Helen Glikman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Sandra R. Levitsky, Caring For Our Own: Why There Is No Political Demand for New American Social Welfare Rights.Oxford University Press (2014). 224 pages, $24.95 (paperback).

Pathologies Of The Poor: What Do The War On Drugs And Welfare Reform Have In Common?, Kalynn Amundson, Anna M. Zajicek, Valerie H. Hunt

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) authorized drug testing of welfare recipients as a criterion for assistance eligibility. This raises the question of a possible confluence of War on Drugs and Welfare Reform policies, as indicated by continuity in policymakers’ rhetoric. We examine federal-level policymakers’ debates surrounding the authorization of drug testing welfare recipients. The analysis reveals that themes of social pathology were present in both policy areas. Crime, drug addiction, welfare dependency, and drug testing themes are comparable in both debates. Teen pregnancy, out-of-wedlock birth, and female-headed households themes were more prevalent in Welfare …

Gender Differences In Self-Employment Of Older Workers In The United States And New Zealand, Angela L. Curl, Deanna L. Sharpe, Jack Noone

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examined differences in self-employment of workers age 50+ in the United States (N = 3,948) and New Zealand (N = 1,434). Separate logistic regression analyses were conducted by country and gender. For both U.S. men and women, lower income, higher wealth, and having an employed spouse increased the likelihood of self-employment. Older age, lower income, higher wealth, and household composition increased the odds of being self-employed for men in New Zealand. Women in New Zealand were more likely to be self-employed if they were in a blue-collar occupation, had higher household wealth, higher education, and did not receive …

Institutionalization Of Children In The Czech Republic: A Case Of Path Dependency, Victoria Schmidt, Jo Daugherty Bailey

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite the development of alternative forms of care, international and domestic pressures for change, and over 20 years of efforts at deinstitutionalization, the Czech Republic has one of the highest rates of institutionalization of children in Europe (UNICEF, 2012). The continuing reliance upon residential care for children by the child protection system, particularly for children who are disabled or of Roma descent, demonstrates a case of path dependency in which a solidification of the system’s response is rooted in its past. Understanding the impact of historical precedence is key to reforming the current system.

Mass Shootings And Mental Health Policy, Jessica Rosenberg

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Research suggests that mass shootings can increase mental health stigma, reinforce stereotypes that people with mental illness are violent, and influence public policy. This article examines mental health policy initiatives resulting from the mass shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado within the context of existing research about mental illness, suicide, substance abuse and gun violence. Previous legislation that restricts access to firearms among persons with mental illness is reviewed. The article suggests that gun control legislation that focuses on persons with mental illness is not supported by research, may create barriers to treatment, and may have limited efficacy …

The Neglect Of Network Theory In Practice With Immigrants In The Southwest, Emilia Martinez-Brawley, Paz M-B. Zorita

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper reviews selected theories of international migration including social network and human capital. It discusses the nature of social networks among immigrants and the costs and benefits for the sending and receiving countries. The history of social network theory in social work practice is revisited. Given the current importance of immigration in the Southwest, the strength and limitations of applying networking principles in practice with immigrants in the border areas are included. This article does not focus on the complexity of networks among refugees or asylum seekers, where government population dispersion or resettlement policies might change their circumstances.

Review Of The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens And The Nation. Leo R. Chavez. Reviewed By Catherine Carballeira., Catherine Carballeira

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Leo R. Chavez, The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens and the Nation. Stanford University Press (2nd ed.) (2013). $70 (hardcover); $22.95 (paperback).

Review Of The Good News Club: The Christian Right’S Stealth Assault On America’S Children. Katherine Stewart. Reviewed By John E. Tropman., John E. Tropman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Katherine Stewart, The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children. Public Affairs (2012). $25.99 (hardcover).

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 2 (June 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE - Howard Karger, James Midgley, and Subas Risal

AUSTERITY VERSUS STIMULUS: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS - James Midgley

THE BITTER PILL: AUSTERITY, DEBT, AND THE ATTACK ON EUROPE'S WELFARE STATES - Howard Karger

BETWEEN RETRENCHMENT AND RECALIBRATION: THE IMPACT OF AUSTERITY ON THE IRISH SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM - Fiona Dukelow and Mairéad Considine

ITALIAN WELFARE IN THE AFTERMATH OF ECONOMIC CRISIS: NEOLIBERAL REFORMS AND LIMITS TO THE PATH DEPENDENCY APPROACH - Ijin Hong

DEFICIT-DRIVEN AUSTERITY POLICIES: EFFECTS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE UNITED STATES - David Miller and …

The Bitter Pill: Austerity, Debt, And The Attack On Europe's Welfare States, Howard Karger

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

There is a general belief among may European policymakers that the current debt problem in some Eurozone countries is caused by the unsustainable levels of governmental spending required to maintain overly generous welfare state programs, a bloated public sector, overly generous pension levels, state subsidies, and low user fees for services. Their proposed solution lies in implementing stringent austerity measures designed to discipline debt-ridden governments by cutting public budgets, reducing the number of public sector workers, curbing social benefits, and sharply narrowing the scope of the welfare state. Based on a belief in ‘expansionary austerity,’ this approach repudiates a key …

Between Retrenchment And Recalibration: The Impact Of Austerity On The Irish Social Protection System, Fiona Dukelow, Mairead Considine

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article analyzes the impact of austerity on the Irish social protection system. The analysis is situated in Ireland’s wider financial and economic crisis and its status as an ‘early adopter’ of an austerity response which has continued under European Union/International Monetary Fund intervention. We focus on how the crisis instigated a political narrative about the cost and design of the social protection system, leading to a programme of retrenchment and reform which has blended a politics of blame avoidance with credit claiming. Three core elements in this narrative— generosity, sustainability and suitability— are identified, and against this background, a …

Italian Welfare In The Aftermath Of The Economic Crisis: Neoliberal Reforms And Limits To The Path Dependency Approach, Ijin Hong

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The 2008 world economic crisis provided a plausible rationale for policy makers in Italy to push forward long needed welfare cuts, resulting in the neoliberal austerity trend fostered by the Monti government (2011-2012). This paper seeks to understand the logic behind the welfare reforms in Italy after the 2008 economic crisis by describing implemented measures and reviewing available theoretical approaches in literature that could account for the reforms’ neoliberal shift from a path-dependent theoretical approach. It is argued that external forces, that is the economic crisis and EU pressures, represented the main trigger, and that political elites marginalized the role …

Rolling Downhill: Effects Of Austerity On Local Government Social Services In The United States, David B. Miller, Terry Hokenstad

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Austerity policies have been instituted in countries around the world attempting to address the fallout from the global economic crisis beginning in 2008 and still lingering through today. While the literature debates the economic impact of these policies, limited attention has been given to the effects of austerity at the local governmental level. It is posited that at the local government level, the effects of austerity policies are most noticeable and detrimental. States and local municipalities are “switching roles” with the federal government (Davidson, 2013, p. 1). They are providing jobs and social welfare services in the gap left by …

Queensland's Budget Austerity And Its Impact On Social Welfare: Is The Cure Worse Than The Disease?, Gregory Marston

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

While considerable attention has been paid to the austerity experiments in Europe, much less attention has been paid to austerity case studies from other parts of the world. This paper examines the case of Queensland, Australia, where the government has pursued austerity measures, while making dire warnings that unless public debt was slashed and the public service sector downsized, Queensland risked becoming the Spain of Australia. The comparison is incomprehensible, given the very different economic situation in Queensland compared with Spain. This comparison constructed a sense of crisis that helped to mask standard neoliberal economic reform. While pursuing neoliberal economic …

Review Of The Origins Of Active Social Policy: Labour Market And Childcare Policies In A Comparative Perspective. Giuliano Bonoli. Reviewed By James Midgley, James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Giuliano Bonoli, The Origins of Active Social Policy: Labour Market and Childcare Policies in a Comparative Perspective. Oxford University Press (2013). $ 99.00 (hardcover).

Review Of Sustainable Failures: Environmental Policy And Democracy In A Petro-Dependent World. Sherry Cable. Reviewed By Chris Williams, Chris Williams

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Sherry Cable, Sustainable Failures: Environmental Policy and Democracy in a Petro-Dependent World. Temple University Press (2012). $29.95 (paperback).