Routledge Studies in Social Welfare in Asia – serie

In recent years, government and policymakers around the world have shifted their attention away from money-oriented, supply-side economics to institutional economics and people-oriented social and economic development. Issues such as poverty reduction, win-win solutions and strategies in social policy and their implementation, universalization, and a variety of new large-scale conditional cash transfers programs have become ever-present in the global discussion about development and social policy.This book provides win-win strategies for social policies on the ground, as developed and put forward by the normative theoretical paradigm of Developmental Social Policy (DSP). Taking the state-of-the-art general development theory as a starting point of reference and discussion, it goes on to discuss in detail the key win-win strategies that form the basis and core of the DSP paradigm. It examines key related issues such as the performance of provident fund systems, the performance of conditional cash transfer systems (especially their elements that are based on asset- and means-testing), universalism and extension in social security provision in the context of especially developing countries, and "non-economically targeted" social welfare benefits and services.Providing fully-fledged theoretical guidance paired with key social policy strategies and solutions, it will be highly valuable for students and scholars of social policy, development studies, and Asia Pacific studies.

This book addresses the global need for more comparative studies on health policy and health care systems, given the rise in recent decades of societal aging, modern mass diseases, economic globalization, and resulting permanent fiscal austerity of governments which have fundamentally altered the status quo of health care systems. The book examines the healthcare experiences of the most developed countries in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore) and compares these with four of the most important health care systems in Europe (UK, France, Germany and Italy). Focusing on the public health care systems the contributors discuss the rising need for reforms in health care and health insurance administration, delivery systems, financing and overall health care policy strategies, particularly in fast-aging societies in Asia, and highly aged societies in Europe. This book will appeal to students and scholars of health care policy, health and social administration, social policy, public policy and social work. It will also provide a reference for professionals who need a view of the trajectory of public health financing in relation to changed and changing demographics and disease patterns.

East Asian societies are changing rapidly, and one of the most important facets of this transformation is population the ageing. of society. "Active ageing" is one of the few concepts available today to effectively address the problems arising from a highly-aged and, particularly in East Asia, fast-ageing society, offering a new social policy paradigm to redirect and innovate new social policies, particularly social services, social transfers, social regulations and laws, towards more investment in and support of the fast rising number of olderelderly citizens. This book focuses on the experiences of East Asian societies where active ageing has been implemented. It presents a thorough analysis of the concept of active ageing and its potential and problems of implementations in different stages of development in East Asia, whilst providing theoretical clarity to, and broadening the concept of, active ageing. Further, the country-focused case studies explore how to design, pursue, measure and evaluate social policies, highlight the problems related to the implementation of the concept of active ageing in social policy and outline the practical implications of active ageing theory forin policy making. Active Ageing in Asia will appeal to students and scholars of social and public policy, social work, gerontology and health and social administration, as well as to policy makers working in the field.

Countries across the Middle East face a number of social problems such as poverty, unemployment, housing, internal immigration and caring for vulnerable groups such as children, women, the disabled and the elderly. Providing an overview of the wide range of social issues addressed by social work practitioners, this book reveals the impact of the region’s distinct historical and cultural factors, traditions, and customs and applications on social welfare and social work practice.Examining social work education and practice across a number of countries including Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Oman and Sudan this book examines and assesses the diverse nature of social work in these countries and the role of the profession in providing essential services to different client groups. This in turn illustrates how social work as a profession contributes to the welfare system in the Middle East, and the relationship and interaction between social work professionals and governments. Further, the contributors demonstrate the religious, historical, ideological, cultural and geographical factors that influence social work practice and delivery in the region, with particular attention paid to the role of Islam in guiding and shaping social welfare institutions and the practice of social services.Bringing together the work of scholars from across the Middle East, this book will be welcomed by students, scholars and practitioners interested in the sociology, politics and culture of the Middle East, international social work and social welfare.

East Asian societies are changing rapidly, and one of the most important facets of this transformation is population the ageing. of society. "Active ageing" is one of the few concepts available today to effectively address the problems arising from a highly-aged and, particularly in East Asia, fast-ageing society, offering a new social policy paradigm to redirect and innovate new social policies, particularly social services, social transfers, social regulations and laws, towards more investment in and support of the fast rising number of olderelderly citizens. This book focuses on the experiences of East Asian societies where active ageing has been implemented. It presents a thorough analysis of the concept of active ageing and its potential and problems of implementations in different stages of development in East Asia, whilst providing theoretical clarity to, and broadening the concept of, active ageing. Further, the country-focused case studies explore how to design, pursue, measure and evaluate social policies, highlight the problems related to the implementation of the concept of active ageing in social policy and outline the practical implications of active ageing theory forin policy making. Active Ageing in Asia will appeal to students and scholars of social and public policy, social work, gerontology and health and social administration, as well as to policy makers working in the field.

In recent years, government and policymakers around the world have shifted their attention away from money-oriented, supply-side economics to institutional economics and people-oriented social and economic development. Issues such as poverty reduction, win-win solutions and strategies in social policy and their implementation, universalization, and a variety of new large-scale conditional cash transfers programs have become ever-present in the global discussion about development and social policy.This book provides win-win strategies for social policies on the ground, as developed and put forward by the normative theoretical paradigm of Developmental Social Policy (DSP). Taking the state-of-the-art general development theory as a starting point of reference and discussion, it goes on to discuss in detail the key win-win strategies that form the basis and core of the DSP paradigm. It examines key related issues such as the performance of provident fund systems, the performance of conditional cash transfer systems (especially their elements that are based on asset- and means-testing), universalism and extension in social security provision in the context of especially developing countries, and "non-economically targeted" social welfare benefits and services.Providing fully-fledged theoretical guidance paired with key social policy strategies and solutions, it will be highly valuable for students and scholars of social policy, development studies, and Asia Pacific studies.

Countries across the Middle East face a number of social problems such as poverty, unemployment, housing, internal immigration and caring for vulnerable groups such as children, women, the disabled and the elderly. Providing an overview of the wide range of social issues addressed by social work practitioners, this book reveals the impact of the region’s distinct historical and cultural factors, traditions, and customs and applications on social welfare and social work practice.Examining social work education and practice across a number of countries including Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Oman and Sudan this book examines and assesses the diverse nature of social work in these countries and the role of the profession in providing essential services to different client groups. This in turn illustrates how social work as a profession contributes to the welfare system in the Middle East, and the relationship and interaction between social work professionals and governments. Further, the contributors demonstrate the religious, historical, ideological, cultural and geographical factors that influence social work practice and delivery in the region, with particular attention paid to the role of Islam in guiding and shaping social welfare institutions and the practice of social services.Bringing together the work of scholars from across the Middle East, this book will be welcomed by students, scholars and practitioners interested in the sociology, politics and culture of the Middle East, international social work and social welfare.