BOOK NOTES

Berenstein, Alexandre: Etudes de droit social (1936–1977). Brandes, Stuart D.: American welfare capitalism 1880–1940. Holland, Walter W., Ipsen, Johannes, and Kostryewski, Jan: Measurement of levels of health. Kostlan, J.: Oral health services in Europe. Maquet, Yves L.: Le contrôle économique des accidents dans l'entreprise. Mendelson, M.: The administrative cost of income security programmes: Ontario and Canada. Michel, Clément: The cost of hospitalisation: Micro-economic approach to the problems involved. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Equal opportunities for women. Steiger, Jean: Le deuxième pilier: service social ou affaire lucrative? US Department of Health, Education and Welfare: Social security and the changing roles of men and women.     

The impact of the use of the social welfare services or social security benefits on attitudes to social welfare policies

Muuri A. The impact of the use of the social welfare services or social security benefits on attitudes to social welfare policies
Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 182–193 © 2009 The Author(s), Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. This article investigates the attitudes of citizens and clients to social welfare services and social security benefits. The data come from a Finnish national survey conducted at the end of 2006. First, the article overviews the previous welfare‐state studies relating especially to the theoretical perspectives of self‐interest and legitimacy. The empirical analysis indicates (i) that a different operation of self‐interest can only weakly explain the differences in attitudes between services and benefits; (ii) that there is general support for Finnish social welfare services and social security benefits, which, however, is mixed with growing criticism among women and pensioners who are supposed to benefit most from the welfare policies; and (iii) that such determinants of attitude as gender, use and, to some extent, lifecycle have become as important as class‐related factors such as income and education.     

Book notes

Brown, Joan C., The disability income system . Brown, Joan C., Family Income Supplement . Brown, Joan C., Children in social security . Ermisch, John, Housing finance: Who gains? Richardson, Ann, Widows' benefits . Centre d'études juridiques européennes, Crise, maintien de l'emploi et partage du travail . Mahon, Pascal, Institutions de sécurité sociale . Saint-Jours, Yves, Traité de la sécurité sociale, Tome 1: Le droit de la sécurité sociale Sendler, Hans, Automation in der Sozialversicherung . Society of Civil and Public Servants and Civil and Public Services Association, From the cradle to the grave . Weale, Albert; Bradshaw, Jonathan; Maynard, Alan; Piachaud, David, Lone mothers, paid work and social security: A study of the Tapered Earnings Disregard .     

Promoting the concept of prevention in social security: issues and challenges for the International Social Security Association1

McKinnon R. Promoting the concept of prevention in social security: issues and challenges for the International Social Security Association Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 455–462 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. The history of the relationship between institutional social security and the concept of prevention is a chequered one. Across much of the 20th century, the imputed importance in social policy agendas accorded to prevention, alongside protection and rehabilitation, was only rarely, and somewhat inconsistently, matched in practice. Currently, efforts are underway internationally to promote the importance of the concept in social security more systematically. A key actor in this regard is the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Focusing on the role of the ISSA, the article argues against any possible endeavours, no matter how tentative, that might seek to mainstream the concept of prevention in social security, and concludes as preferable a narrower, but more vigorous, selective approach based on institutional practice to date.     

Social security for China's rural aged: a proposal based on a universal non‐contributory pension

Yang Y, Williamson JB, Shen C. Social security for China's rural aged: a proposal based on a universal non‐contributory pension Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 236–245 © 2009 The Author(s), Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. China's relative lack of social security coverage for rural elders exacerbates the already severe rural–urban economic disparity, slows the rate of rural poverty reduction, and raises social justice concerns. Our analysis draws on evidence from a number of sources including interviews with experts on China, Chinese government documents, Chinese newspaper accounts, and other sources from other countries. Based on our analysis of what has been tried in other countries and the current situation in rural China, we offer some suggestions for Chinese policy makers. We suggest that, for rural China, a universal non‐contributory old‐age pension deserves serious consideration, and refer to our proposed model as a Rural Old‐Age Social Pension. It will reduce the level of poverty in rural areas and the degree of income inequality between rural and urban areas while simultaneously promoting social and political stability.     

BOOK NOTES

Book reviewed in this article: Social policy, development and the welfare state Stiglitz, Joseph E. Making globalization work. Vij, Ritu (ed.). Globalization and welfare: A critical reader. Deacon, Bob. Global social policy and governance. Castles, Francis G. (ed.). The disappearing State? Retrenchment realities in an age of globalisation. Carr, Fergus; Massey, Andrew (eds.). Public policy and the new European agendas. Faverel‐Dapas, Brigitte; Quintin, Odile. L'Europe sociale. Van Langendonck, Jef (ed.). The right to social security. Riedel, Eibe (ed.). Social security as a human right: Drafting a general comment on Article 9 ICESCR: Some challenges. Fitzpatrick, Pamela; Ripley, Fiona; Singh, Anne. Migration and social security hand‐book: A rights guide for people entering and leaving the UK. Berkel, Rik van; Valkenburg, Ben. Making it personal: Individualising activation services in the EU. Serrano Pascual, Amparo; Magnusson, Lars (eds.). Reshaping welfare states and activation regimes in Europe. Sinn, Hans‐Werner; et al. Redesigning the welfare state: Germany's current agenda for an activating social assistance. Marston, Greg; McDonald, Catherine (eds.). Analysing social policy: A governmental approach. Wallace, Mike; Fertig, Michael; Schneller, Eugene (eds.). Managing change in the public services. Riesco, Manuel (ed.). Latin America: A new developmental welfare state model in the making? Krömmelbein, Silvia; et al. Einstellungen zum Sozialstaat: Repräsentative Quer ‐ schnittsuntersuchung zu grundsätzlichen gesundheits‐ und sozialpolitischen Einstellungen in der Bevölkerung. Dobner, Petra. Neue soziale Frage und Sozialpolitik. Work, income, family, exclusion Spicker, Paul. The idea of poverty. Lang, Kevin. Poverty and discrimination. Marx, Ive. A new social question? On minimum income protection in the postindustrial era. Bischoff, Joachim. Allgemeines Grundeinkommen: Fundament für soziale Sicherheit? Leisering, Lutz; Buhr, Petra; Traiser‐Diop, Ute. Soziale Grundsicherung in der Weltgesellschaft: Monetäre Mindestsicherungs‐systeme in den Ländern des Südens und des Nordens: Weltweiter Survey und theoretische Verortung. Stähler, Nikolai. Employment protection and unemployment: A theoretical analysis evaluating recent policy proposals. Kemp, Peter A. (ed.). Housing allowances in comparative perspective. Age concerns Pension funds investment perspectives . International Seminar, Santiago, 18‐19 May 2006. Immergut, Ellen M.; Anderson, Karen M.; Schulze, Isabelle (eds.). The handbook of West European pension politics. Health matters Dussault, Gilles; Fournier, Pierre; Letourmy, Alain (eds.). L'assurance maladie en Afrique francophone: améliorer l'accès aux soins et lutter contre la pauvreté. Beau, Pascal. Lettre ouverte au Ministre de la santé.     

Canada's Social Security Review

Canada's social security system is a patchwork quilt of relatively discreet and uncoordinated programs built up over many decades. While constitutional responsibilities for income security and social services rests with the provinces, federal program initiatives were seen to be eroding the provincial responsibilities and causing confusion between federal and provincially financed programs. The Review of Social Security attempted to comprehensively evaluate the ‘system’ of programs in Canada to correct deficiencies. Financing and respective government responsibilities were also examined. The three year review did not result, in the author's opinion, in sufficient changes in the social security system ‘for the benefit of all Canadians’. The failure to adequately confront employment (unemployment) issues was one gap. Another was the failure to implement changes in income supplementation for the working poor. Tangible results included the introduction of a new Social Service Act which permits cost sharing, and increased cooperation between and among departmental officials and ministers. The Canadian experience contains lessons for the development of joint social policies between state and commonwealth governments in Australia.     

BOOK NOTES

Bernd von Maydell; Bernd Schulte (eds.). Zukunftsperspektiven des Europäischen Sozialrechts Gerhard Kleinhenz (ed.). Soziale Integration in Europa Lothar F. Neumann; Frank Schulz-Nieswandt (eds.). Sozialpolitik und öffentliche Wirtschaft: In memoriam Theo Thiemeyer Winfried Schmähl; Herbert Rische (eds.). Internation-alisierung von Wirtschaft und Polilik: Handlungsspiel-räume der nationalen Sozialpolitik. M. Cichon; W. Scholz; K. Pal. ILO social budget model. Soziale Sicherung in der internationalen Enhvicklungs-zusammenarbeit: Ein Beratungsmanual. The cost of social security: Fourteenth international inquiry, 1987–1989. Social Security Department, International Labour Office. Wouter van Ginneken. Social security for the informal sector: Issues, options and tasks ahead Bernd von Maydell; Bernd Schulte (eds.). Treatment of third country nationals in the EU and EEA member States in terms of social security law. Blanka Storka. Sozialversicherung in Tschechien: Ein praxisnaher Leitfdden. Pierre Gilliand; Stéphane Rossini. Le budget social de la Suisse. Peter Zweifel; Dario Bonato; Christophe Zaborowski. Soziale Sicherung von morgen: Ein Vorschlag für die Schweiz. Peter Füglistaler-Wasmer; Maurice Pedergana-Fehr. Vision einer sozialen Schweiz: zum Umbau der Sozialpolitik. James Calleja (ed.). Meeting the challenges of ageing populations in the developing world James H. Smallhout. The uncertain retirement: Securing pension promises in a world of risk. Commissariat général du Plan. Perspectives à long terme des retraites. Irene Hoskins (ed.). Combining work and elder care: A challenge for now and the future. Isobel Allen; Elizabeth Perkins (eds.). The future of family care for older people. Ecole nationale d'administration — Promotion René Char (1993–1995). Institut international d'administration publique. Helle Holt; Ivan Thaulow (eds.). Reconciling work and family life: An international perspective on the role of companies. Nadine Boujane. One-parent families in the member States of the European Union Gilles Lamarque. L'exclusion (“Que sais-je?” series, No. 3077). Michael R. Darby (ed.). Reducing poverty in America: Views and approaches. Bernard Enjolras. Le marché providence: aide à domicile, politique sociale et création d'emploi René Baptiste. Le social mérite mieux: comment améliorer la qualityé des prestations sociales     

International Homelessness: Policy, Socio-Cultural, and Individual Perspectives

This article draws on other papers in the special issue and additional literature to offer a multi-level framework for understanding the causes of homelessness in the developed world and efforts to reduce or end it. Social policies that reduce inequality and provide income and other supports to those at the bottom of the income distribution are associated with lower levels of homelessness across nations. The allocation of subsidies, patterns of social exclusion, and individual levels of economic, social, and human capital interact to influence who becomes homeless. Interventions to reduce homelessness at one level (e.g., social policy) can counteract vulnerabilities at a different level (e.g., individual risk factors) .     

Book Notes

Books reviewed International Labour Office, Social security: A new consensus. European Commission. Eurostat, The social situation in the European Union, 2001. Laroque, Michel, Guide de la protection sociale. Matt, Jean‐Luc, La securité sociale: organization et financement. Mills, Catherine; Caudron, Jos, Protection sociale: économie et politique, débats actuels et réformes. Fink, Janet; Lewis, Gail; Clarke, John (eds.), Rethinking European welfare. Taylor, Lance (ed.), External liberalization, economic performance, and social policy. Yeates, Nicola, Globalization and social policy. Schuster, Thomas.Europäische oder dezentrale Sozialpolitik?: der Einfluß internationaler Nachfrage‐ und Präferenzunterschiede. Gill, Indermit S. (et al.), Brazil: Critical issues in social security. Schokkaert, Erik (ed.), Ethics and social security reform. Schaffhauser, René Schlauri, Franz, (eds.) Aktuelle Rechtsfragen der Sozialversicherungspraxis. White, Joseph, False alarm: Why the greatest threat to Social Security and Medicare is the campaign to “save” them. Gütersloh, Internationaler Reform‐Report 2001. Pfenning, Astrid; Bahle, Thomas (eds), Families and family policies in Europe: Comparative perspectives. Ginn, Jay; Street, Debra; Arber, Sara (eds.), Women, work and pensions: International issues and prospects. Millar, Jane; Rowlingson, Karen, Lone parents, employment and social policy: Crossnational comparisons. France. Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité Union nationale interfédérale des oelig;uvres et organismes privés sanitaires et sociaux, Exclusion sociale et pauvreté en Europe. Mayes, David G.; Berghman, Jos; Salais, Robert, (eds.) Social exclusion and European policy. Wong, Ging; Picot, Garnett (eds.), Working time in comparative perspective. Vol. I: Patterns, trends and the policy implications of earnings inequality and unemployment. Houseman, Susan; Nakamura, Alice (eds.) Working time in comparative perspectives. Vol. II: Life‐cycle working time and nonstandard work Robins, Philip K.; Spiegelman, Robert G. (eds.) Reemployment bonuses in the employment insurance system: Evidence from three experiments. Holzmann, Robert; Palacios, Robert (eds.) Key issues in introducing pre‐funded pension schemes: Symposium. William M. Mercer European pension fund managers’ guide 2001/2002. Vol. 1: The marketplace, 2001. Vol. 2: Profiles, 2001–2002. Buttler, Andreas, Einführung in die betriebliche Altersversorgung: mit allem Änderungen durch das Altersvermögensgesetz Taverne, Dick (et al.) Pension reform in Europe. Disney, Richard; Johnson, Paul (eds.) Pension systems and retirement incomes across OECD countries. Rechmann, Susanne, Alterssicherung in der Europäischen Union. VI: Alterssicherung in Grossbritannien und Irland: eine institutionnelle und empirische Analyse. Clemens, Wolfgang, Ältere Arbeitnehmer im sozialen Wandel: von der verschmühten zur gefragten Humanressource? Glover, Ian; Branine, Mohamed (eds.), Ageism in work and employment. Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development, Ageing and income: Financial resources and retirement in nine OECD countries. France. Conseil d’orientation des retraites, Age et travail: un axe de réflexion essentiel pour l’avenir des retraites. Karl, Fred; Krasnova, Olga V. (eds.) Alter und Altern in Russland. Henke, Klaus‐Dirk; Dräger, Christian (eds.) Gesundheitssysteme am Scheideweg: zwischen Wettbewerb und Solidarität. Schaub, Vanessa Elisabeth, Grenzüberschreitende Gesundheitsversorgung in der Europäischen Union: die gesetzlichen Gesundheitssysteme im Wettbewerb. Dahlgaard, Knut; Jung, Kalle; Schelter, Wolfgang, Profit‐Center‐Strukturen im Krankenhaus: Potentiale, Risiken und (Neben‐) Wirkungen     

BOOK NOTES

Claudine Attias-Donfut (ed.). Les solidarités entre générations: Vieillesse, familles, Etat Ken Tout (ed.). Elderly care: A world perspective. Jean-Pierre Chauchard. Droit de la sécurité sociale. Thomas Locher. Grundriβ der Sozialversicherungsrechts. Renate Krieg; Monika Schädler (eds.). Social security in the People's Republic of china. Daniel Lenoir. L'Europe sociale. Theo Schiller. Sozialpolitik in Kanada in den 80er Jahren. Emmerich Talos; Karl Wörister. Soziale Sicherung in Sozialstaat Österreich. June Wangmann. Towards integration and quality assurance in children's services. Ariel Beresniak; Gérard Duru. Economie de la santé Le prix de la santé la solidarité dans l'assurance-maladie David Mechanic. Inescapable decisions: The imperatives of health reform. Joshua M. Wiener; Laurel Hixon Illston; Raymond J. Hanley. Sharing the burden: Strategies for public and private long-term care insurance. Rebecca M. Blank. Social protection versus economic flexibility: Is there a trade-off? Jochen Clasen. Paying the jobless: A comparison of unemployment benefit policies in Great Britain and Germany. Harry Coenen; Peter Leisink. Work and citizenship in the new Europe. Bernard Eme; Jean-Louis Laville (eds.). Cohésion sociale et emploi. Jean-Marc Dupuis. Le financement de la protection sociale. Carmelo Mesa Lago. La reforma de la seguridad social y las pensiones en América latina: importancia y evaluación de las alternativas de privatización. John Turner; Noriyasu Watanabe. Private pension policies in industrialized countries: A comparative analysis. Wim van Oorschot. Realizing rights: A multi-level approach to non-take-up of means-tested benefits. Social security for women. Michael M. Zwick (ed.). Einmal arm, immer arm? Neue Befunde zur Armut in Deutschland.     

Book notes

International Labour Office, Into the twenty-first century: The development of social security .
Bekemans, Lóonce (ed.), Social security and employment .
Centre d'étude des revenus et des coats, Comparaison des régimes de séurité sociale: Cotisations et prestations
Hatchnel, G.; Mannouri, P., Les prestations maladie par catégorie de famille and Les retraités et leurs resources.
Fogarty, Michael (ed.), Retirement policy: The next fifty years .
Mach, E. P.; Abel-Smith, B. (eds.), Planning the finances of the health sector: A manual for developing countries .
Novitskii, Anatolii Georgievich; Mil, Galina Vasilievna, Zaniatost pensionerov: Socialno-demografitcheskii aspect .
Wade, Barbara; Sawyer, Lucianne; Bell, Judith, Dependency with dignity: Different care provision for the elderly .     

Social assistance and minimum income benefits in old and new EU democracies

Nelson K. Social assistance and minimum income benefits in old and new EU democracies Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 367–378 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. In this article, social assistance developments are analysed in a large number of European Union (EU) member states, including European transition countries and the new democracies of southern Europe. The empirical analysis is based on the unique and recently established SaMip Dataset, which provides social assistance benefit levels for 27 countries from 1990 to 2005. It is shown that social assistance benefits have had a less favourable development than that of unemployment provision. Hardly any of the investigated countries provide social assistance benefits above the EU near‐poverty threshold. Social assistance benefit levels have not converged in Europe. Instead, divergence can be observed, which is due mainly to lagging developments in eastern and southern Europe.     

Thinking about ageing issues

Advances in longevity and falling birth rates have a profound impact on our societies, in both the industrialized and developing worlds. Demographic ageing is causing considerable concern, if not alarm, in many circles. Yet the public debate about the future of social security is often lacking in accurate and objective information. It is easier to focus on the "burden" of ageing on society than attempt to better understand the complex, interrelated nature of the issues involved, especially the rising numbers of persons of working age who are inactive and contributing neither taxes nor social security contributions. Whether the mode of pension financing is public or private, retirement income of the non-active older population must be paid out of the economic gains of the younger working population. Social security policy is all about making plans now for future generations. This means more carefully defining the terms of the public debate, articulating more clearly the desired objectives and policies.     

BOOK NOTES

Abel-Smith, B. and Grandjeat, P., Pharmaceutical consumption: Trends in expenditure: Main measures taken and underlying objectives of public intervention in this field.
Mouvement international ATD Quart Monde, Enfants de ce temps: Livre blanc des enfants du quart monde.
Piachaud, David, The cost of a child: A modern minimum.
Scheil, Xenia B., Dynamisierung gesetzlicher Altersrenten: Eine Analyse der Zielvorstellungen in Anpassungsregelungen ausgewählter OECD Länder.
US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Social security in a changing world.
US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Social Security Administration, Policy analysis with social security research files: Proceedings of a workshop held March 1978 at Williamsburg, Virginia.
Wilson, Dorothy, The welfare state in Sweden: a study in comparative social administration.
World Health Organization, Controlling the smoking epidemic.     

Social security: Indispensable solidarity

Social security must be considered not as an economic burden, but as a collection of mechanisms for collective solidarity based on the principle of income redistribution. The economic and social transformations that the various regions of the world are going through, in particular the globalization of the economy, are making social security increasingly necessary. Instead of yielding to proposals for the privatization of schemes — a formula that is less efficient and more expensive — we should be protecting and improving social security; developing it in those countries where its position is still weak; and stressing that, while its objectives are humane and social, it brings economic benefits too.     

The potential power of social policy programmes: income redistribution,economic resources and health

Lundberg O, Fritzell J, Åberg Yngwe M, Kölegård ML. The potential power of social policy programmes: income redistribution, economic resources and health Int J Soc Welfare 2010: ??: ??–??© 2010 The Author(s), Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and International Journal of Social Welfare. This Supplement includes a number of articles dealing with the role of social policy schemes for public health across the life course. As a key social determinant of health, poverty and its consequences have historically been at the forefront of the public health discussion. But also in rich countries today, economic resources are likely to be important for health and survival, both on an individual and an aggregate level. This introductory article serves as a background for the more specific analyses that follow. The focus is on why income and income inequality could have an effect on individual and population health. We discuss relationships between the individual and population levels and between income and health, and some of the possible mechanisms involved. We also present arguments for why welfare state institutions may matter.