Full Description
Social Policy in Canada provides and important and timely examination of the past, present, and future of Canadian social policy. In particular, Lightman looks closely at how social benefits are allocated, and explains in detail the mechanisms and tools of income transfer and redistribution that are central to all aspects of social policy. What makes the book unique is its central organizing premise: not merely that social policy should be understood in juxtaposition to economic policy, but that economic policy is in fact a subset of social policy. The result is a comprehensive overview of key issues in the realm of social policy that highlights commonalities and differences in such pivotal areas as privatization, user fees, and universality.
Contents
List of Tables ; List of Figures ; Foreword ; Preface ; Part I Introduction ; Chapter 1 Setting the Context ; Introduction ; Distribution and Redistribution ; Income Inequality in Canada ; Wealth and Income ; Half a Century of Social Welfare in Canada ; The Macroeconomic Context: Keynes and After ; Supply-Side Economics ; The International Context ; Looking Ahead ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Part II Approaches to Social Policy ; Chapter 2 Defining Social Policy ; Introduction ; A Look at Social Policy and Economic Policy ; Building a Definition: 'Social' and 'Policy' ; Issues Arising ; A Model of Redistribution ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Chapter 3 Social Policy and Economic Market ; Introduction ; Labels ; Residualism ; The Centrality of Work ; Outside Residualism: The Institutional Approach ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Part III Allocating Benefits ; Chapter 4 Allocting Benefits: Privatization, Commercialization, and Welfare Pluralism ; Introduction ; The Terms ; The Reasons to Privatize ; Forms of Privatization ; Issues in Privatization ; The Regulatory Dilemma ; Welfare Pluralism ; Some Evidence of Privatization ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Chapter 5 Allocating Benefits: What? ; Introduction ; Types of Benefits ; Comparing Delivery Modes ; Paternalism: 'For Your Own Good' ; Effectiveness ; Stigma ; Efficiency ; Capacity and Substitute Decision-Makers ; Vouchers ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Chapter 6 Allocating Benefits: To Whom? ; Introduction ; The Universal/Selective Debate ; Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI) ; A Look at Government Spending ; Cash, In-Kind-Universal/Selective ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Part IV Generating Resources ; Chapter 7 Paying Through Taxes ; Introduction ; Goals of Taxation ; Two Principles of Taxation ; Tax Revenues in Canada ; Tax Reform in Canada ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Chapter 8 Fees, Charges, and Premiums ; Introduction ; The Simple Microeconomics of Fees ; The Reasons Not To Impose Fees ; The Reasons To Impose Fees ; Setting Fee Levels ; Premiums and Social Insurance ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Chapter 9 Volunteers, Charities, and Gamblers ; Introduction ; The Voluntary Sector in Canada ; The Advantages of Using Volunteers and Charities ; The Disadvantages of Using Volunteers and Charities ; Charities and the Income Tax System ; Gambling ; Advantages of Gambling as a Revenue Source ; Disadvantages of Gambling as a Revenue Source ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Part V Conclusion ; Chapter 10 Looking Ahead ; Introduction ; Policy Means Choice ; A New Welfare Society? ; Looking Globally ; Notes ; Suggested Reading ; Glossary ; Bibliography ; Index
