Exploring Neglected Dimensions of Social Policy: The SDW, Fiscal Welfare and the Exemplar of Local Taxation in England

Titmuss's Social Division of Welfare (SDW) thesis is a vitally important but much neglected element of social policy analysis. This article seeks to explore the SDW, with a particular focus on fiscal welfare. Fiscal welfare has been described as forming a hidden welfare state, and while taxation is one of the main ways in which governments affect the lives of citizens, studies of welfare pay remarkably little attention to its impact. Fiscal welfare is examined by using, as an exemplar, local taxation in England, a subject that itself is neglected within social policy. Local taxation in England is of interest because it illustrates the impact of a system of taxation on different groups of citizens, and how this can operate to the benefit of rich over poor citizens. This is because the current system is highly regressive, meaning that those on low and middle incomes spend proportionately more of their income paying the tax than do those on high incomes. What is of further interest is how within the debate about reform of local taxation, concern with regressivity becomes obscured and ceases to be the focus of attention. We are thus provided with an example of how fiscal welfare remains a hidden issue. The article concludes by arguing that social policy analysis needs to move beyond the narrow confines of social welfare and develop a broader understanding of welfare, based on the SDW.     

A decision support system for the selection of a casting process using analytic hierarchy process

This paper presents an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based decision support system to select the most suitable casting process for a given product. The hierarchical structure of the proposed method allows the decision maker to compare the different casting processes using the material suitability and flexibility, geometrical complexity, dimensional tolerance and surface finish of the casting, and the cost as the criteria for selection. Judgemental inconsistency of the decision maker in selecting the casting process is taken care by ensuring that the value of consistency ratio is below (0.1). A numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for selecting the suitable casting process.     

The burdens of social capital: How socially-involved people dealt with stress after Hurricane Katrina

Research shows that those with greater social capital enjoy better physical and mental health. The current study illuminates a paradox of social capital which may afflict those involved in traumatic events. Several years of survey data reveal a dynamic picture of the link between social capital and stress following Hurricane Katrina. Results reveal that initially after Katrina, those who were more socially embedded carried the greatest load with respect to helping the displaced population, thus experiencing more stress. But over time, the most socially-involved then snapped back from their stressful experiences more rapidly than isolates. This confirms that over the course of stressful events, social involvement first exposes people to more stress, but as time passes, provides them a significant buffer against negative psychosocial experiences.     

关于建立城乡统一的社会保障体系的浅见

建立城乡统一的社会保障体系不仅是学术界争论的焦点，也是实践部门讨论的热点。各种主张众说纷纭。然而，建立统一的社会保障体系不能凭空设想，应立足于实际，坚持具体问题具体分析。当务之急是根据农村的情况，分地方、分人群、分层次建立安全有效的农村社会保障体系。     

壮族通灵巫师的组织流派及其他——壮族巫信仰研究系列论文之三

壮族巫师群体散布于各地民间,与正统的宗教团体组织相比,其组织形式是松散的,但是,有其特殊的民间组织形式。另外,巫师有独特的行头和巫具,在壮族社会中也有一定的影响。     

魏晋南北朝史发展要义二题

魏晋南北朝约400年,为分裂割据时期,战乱促使人们思维活跃,无论政治、军事、经济、文化皆出现了承上启下的新内涵。而其要义则为政治上的儒法结合和三省六部制,军事上的府兵制,经济上的均田制,文化上的永明新体诗和骈文的出现,所有这些对后世历史发展具有深远影响。     

“中国式慈善”的现状与未来——基于社会资本视角的分析

＂郭美美＂事件引发了公众对慈善的质疑和热议,将中国慈善推向了风口浪尖。从社会资本的角度分析,中国慈善面临公众慈善意识薄弱,慈善组织数量少、筹款能力弱、公信力较低,慈善立法滞后三大问题。未来中国慈善发展应提高全民慈善意识,积极构建慈善网络和提高慈善组织公信力。     

世界体系中的"华南经济圈"及其参与中国-东盟自由贸易区的优势问题--全球化背景下的华南经济圈研究之一

世界各地的华侨华人经济联系建构了世界华商网络 ,并以此融入世界体系 ,形成了整个“中华经济圈” ;而包括粤港澳台闽桂琼在内的“华南经济圈”则构筑了“中华经济圈”的圆心 ,并维系其经济增长 (“圆周半径”)的动态平衡。“华南经济圈”由闽台经济区、珠江三角洲经济区、环北部湾沿岸经济区和环南中国海经济区所构成 ,它参与中国———东盟自由贸易区的优势主要在于地缘经济优势、特区经济优势和会展经济优势     

从"权利"到"仪式":南非的艾滋病行动主义

在本文中,我考察了南非HIV/AIDS行动主义的道德政治如何有助于公民身份(citizen-ship)新形式的出现,这种新形式既与基于权利(rights-based)的斗争相关,又与个体HIV/AIDS患者对病痛和污名化(stigmatization)极端体验的共享意义相关。我指出,可以确定的是,正是晚期艾滋病患者"接近死亡"的绝境体验、以及与这种疾病晚期阶段相连的巨大污名和"社会死亡",为HIV/AIDS的幸存者对"新生命"和社会行动主义的委身提供了平台。行动主义者的干预和对这些创伤经验的重述也推动了HIV/AIDS对行动主义的委身和社会底层的动员。此外,污名和社会死亡的巨大否定性也驱使行动主义者重建对HIV检测呈阳性人群新的、正面的身份认同,并促使他们思考,作为一名公民-行动主义者和一项社会运动的成员意味着什么。     

新时期回族传统体育的社会价值

本文概述了回族传统体育的内涵及其特性,分析了回族传统体育社会价值的具体内容,提出了实现回族传统体育可持续发展和社会价值的对策建议.