Chapter One: Poverty and the Modern Welfare State Flashcards
What does the author claim is the weakness of a basic necessities poverty measurement? What does she claim is the problem with using access to resources as a benchmark?
because raised q- what are basic necessities of life in a modern developed nation like canada? (finds no poverty in canada )
lack of access to resources- what are the resources and amenities required for individuals and communities to be healthy and reach their full potential? (finds canada to be one of highest pov in developed nation )
What are the three social policy discourses of Ruth Levitas?
1 moral underclass (MUD) no morals
social integrationist ()SID no jobs
redistributionist (RED) no money = problem
what does poverty mean in a developed nation
deprivation from the material and social requirements for reaching ones full human and social potential expected in a devoped nation
why is poverty in canada a concern
developement economic ethical legal health safety and spiritual concerns 1
what are the economic concerns of poverty
not being able to adapt to rapidly changing work enviro due to cognitive and social skill inadequacy
what is public policy
courses of action or inaction taking by public athorities to address a problem (s)
how is gov in control of poverty
taxes, benefits and employement aggreement and distribution. housing, transport, labour laws, edu and employement policy (gov primary determinant of pov )
moral undertone of poverty in developed nations
deserving and undeserving poor (not their fault or is)- little evidence
what is a discorse
Dif ways of thinking about poverty - the way society makes sense of a phenomenon- some discourses more easily accpetable than others because how they fit w dominant economic and politics
what is MUD?
asserts that the uderclass or socially excluded are distinct from the mianstream. focuses on behaviours of poor rather than society.
benefits encourage dependancy
is gendered- men criminals woman single mothers when idle
does not acknowledge unpaid work
dependancy on state viewed as problem but personal dependancy not
what is RED
views poverty as primary cause of social exlusion
poverty redcued though increasing benefitis
values unpaid work
complex view of inequality
focus on process that creates ineq
implies radical reduction of inequalities and redistribution of power and resources
driven by unequal distribution of wealth and power
what is SID
narrow focus on paid work
does not ask why people not working consigned to poverty
obscures issues of inequality amoung paid workers
ignores gender and class issues e.g. less pay for women
does not highlight inequality between owners of production and rest of population
ignores unpaid work
undermines legitimacy of non participation in paid work
coorece into paid labour force
which discourse dominant in Canada
MUD- makes gov benefits so bad motivated to join workforce, poor bashing
What is the Neo-Liberal / Neo-Conservative ideology discourse?
re embrace of free market ideology (70s)
changes to policy explained by this. goes against communal view that gov should intervene in market to ensure benefits for population
eg. Chretien era 1990- withdrew involvement and funding in things like housing redistributed in favour of buisness and trade
neo conservative: commitment to market for resource distribution with added blame on those who are poor (neoliberal with attitude toward poor)
what is the the Marxist/Social Democratic discourse?
poor people are espential to people who dominate the economy. redistribute resources not distributed to poor into pockets of people up top. rich want poverty bcs it = their profits. bad worker wages = more profit
what is the the feminist discourse?
focus on women more poverty. feminization of poverty in canada. patriarchy= weath power and prestige less avalible to women. no economic recognition of child bearing which limmits workforce engagement. doesnt take into account cost of child rearing
are recent gov spending initiatives working
offset by growing wealth inequality = no dent
how are poor people treated in neoliberal/ conservative
not supported financially as well as ostracized, blamed for situation
what is the racialization discourse
people of colour more suseptible to social exclusion and inequality. racisn and discrimination heightened by economic competition, more weath power for economic elites
How do these ideologies shape poverty solutions?
changes the implicit attitudes and explicit policy impacting poor people. changes role of gov investment in social infrastucture and support based on how the ideology views poverty being caused e.g stingy social assistance and refusal to raise the minimum wage in neoliberal/ conservative bcs beleive in free market opposed to communal view
What are the three welfare state types
liberal conservative and social democratic
what are different welfare states
systematic differences in how countries approach the provision of supports and security across the lifespan - influence poverty, health effets and pub policy. influ by citizens and values
what type of welfare state is canada
liberal- liberty of market to distribute goods and resources. weak unions, only some in emplyee agreements. modest social program spending (means tested= low income assistance not universal ben)
social as limmited by work ethic attitudes = individual problem. individualistics ignores structual impacts
describe conservative welfare states
generous benefits based on employment status (male breadwinners). majority covered by amp agreements but few unions = solidarity and social cohesion. earnings related benefits. assumes family supports citizens
