The American myth of markets in social policy
Subtitle: ideological roots of inequality
By: Debra Hevenstone
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; Springer
Published: 2015
Place of publication: New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 302
ISBN-13: 9781137436290
Subjects: POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Social Policy; Equality; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Social Classes; Social policy; Social classes; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Social Work; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural
Description: "The American Myth of Markets in Social Policy examines how implementing American tropes in policy design inadvertently frustrates policy goals. The book investigates multiple market-oriented designs including funding for private organizations to deliver public services, funding for individuals to buy services, and policies incentivizing or mandating private actors to provide social policy. Hevenstone shows that these solutions often not only fail to achieve social goals, but actively undermine them. The book carefully details the mechanisms through which this occurs, and examines several policies in depth, covering universal social insurance programs like healthcare and pensions, as well as smaller interventions like programs for the homeless. "--

"The American Myth of Markets in Social Policy examines how implementing ideas about markets in policy design inadvertently frustrates policy goals. Hevenstone examines policies ranging from universal social insurance programs to smaller targeted interventions, making her argument with both substantive empirical evidence as well as anecdote, which keeps the book accessible and entertaining"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note:; title: PART I: THEORY1.Defining Social Goals: Pragmatism, Empiricism, and the Social Debate2.Social Policy Design: Market-Oriented Solutions, Rationality, and FederalismPART II: POLICY3.Labor Markets: Wages, the Employer's Role, and Family Policy4.Social Insurance: Health, Pensions, and Long-Term Care5.Targeted Programs: Housing, Homelessness, and Youth Training6.Social Pressure: Health Behaviors, Bullying, Prejudice, and Discrimination.