Comparative Social Policy Fly-In # 1: Fly-In Session # 1: Part 1

2 How can we compare social policies? Before we can start comparing social policy (ies) we need to answer TWO questions: Before we can start comparing social policy (ies) we need to answer TWO questions: What IS social policy? What IS social policy? Who or what delivers social policy? Who or what delivers social policy?

3 What is social policy? What is welfare? In your small groups think about what social policy is and list some examples of social policy provision In your small groups think about what social policy is and list some examples of social policy provision It may help when thinking about this to substitute the word ‘welfare’ for ‘social policy’ – what is ‘welfare’ and what forms can welfare provision take? It may help when thinking about this to substitute the word ‘welfare’ for ‘social policy’ – what is ‘welfare’ and what forms can welfare provision take?

4 Who or what provides social policy/ welfare? Try now to think about who or what might deliver social policy/welfare Try now to think about who or what might deliver social policy/welfare Try to think beyond government or ‘the state’ – who else might deliver social policy/welfare? Try to think beyond government or ‘the state’ – who else might deliver social policy/welfare? Be prepared for your group to share your ideas with the whole class on: Be prepared for your group to share your ideas with the whole class on: a) what social policy is and b) who/what delivers social policy

5 Summary What is Social Policy ? Summary Personal and family income – social protection, pensions, etc.; health, housing, education, personal social care etc.Personal and family income – social protection, pensions, etc.; health, housing, education, personal social care etc. But what about employment policy, taxation,criminal justice, immigration etc.?But what about employment policy, taxation,criminal justice, immigration etc.? Need to think both about own ‘national’ experience, but also how policies may be developed differently elsewhere in the worldNeed to think both about own ‘national’ experience, but also how policies may be developed differently elsewhere in the world

6 Who or what delivers social policy ? Summary Central government, or the state, is not the only possible provider of SP Welfare states always have other bodies delivering welfare alongside them Central government, or the state, is not the only possible provider of SP Welfare states always have other bodies delivering welfare alongside them Private for profit organizations, employers, charities, trade unions, community groups, religious bodies, the family (direct and extended), other voluntary groups, friends, neighbours... Private for profit organizations, employers, charities, trade unions, community groups, religious bodies, the family (direct and extended), other voluntary groups, friends, neighbours... Also agencies with delegated responsibilities from government for SP, e.g. regional and local govts., quasi governmental agencies Also agencies with delegated responsibilities from government for SP, e.g. regional and local govts., quasi governmental agencies Need to look also at areas which govts and other providers specifically do not intervene in, at least in a policy sense: e.g. family policy. Some do intervene in such areas, and this illustrates the significance of non-intervention by other countries (cf. Fr and UK). Need to look also at areas which govts and other providers specifically do not intervene in, at least in a policy sense: e.g. family policy. Some do intervene in such areas, and this illustrates the significance of non-intervention by other countries (cf. Fr and UK).

7 3 dimensions of Social Policy 1)Impact (Outcomes) 1)Impact (Outcomes) 2)Substance (Content) 2)Substance (Content) 3)Origins (Ideology) 3)Origins (Ideology)

8 Methodological issues 1. How do we compare? Country by country ? Country by country ? Policy area by policy area ? Policy area by policy area ? 2.Sources for comparison? Statistics? Statistics? Welfare philosophies/ideologies? Welfare philosophies/ideologies? Institutional frameworks? Institutional frameworks?

9 The historical dimension Need to set each country's policy in its own specific historical context (esp political, economic and cultural), but also to compare with other country's histories Need to set each country's policy in its own specific historical context (esp political, economic and cultural), but also to compare with other country's histories Historical dimension of development and future changes- e.g. impact of restructuring of global economy; impact of EU social legislation etc.; impact of international organisations e.g WTO, UN Historical dimension of development and future changes- e.g. impact of restructuring of global economy; impact of EU social legislation etc.; impact of international organisations e.g WTO, UN

10 Comparative evidence and methods Do the same words – e.g. social exclusion, poverty – mean the same thing in different national contexts ? Do the same words – e.g. social exclusion, poverty – mean the same thing in different national contexts ? Language and the constitution of social problems and policy responses over time – e.g. ‘lone mothers’; ‘family’ policy; ‘disability’… Language and the constitution of social problems and policy responses over time – e.g. ‘lone mothers’; ‘family’ policy; ‘disability’…

11 Comparative evidence What counts as ‘evidence’ for the purposes of comparison? What counts as ‘evidence’ for the purposes of comparison? StatisticalStatistical Historical/culturalHistorical/cultural Political/ideologicalPolitical/ideological InstitutionalInstitutional

12 What counts as comparison ? Description? Description? Simple comparison: Similarities and Difference? Simple comparison: Similarities and Difference? Analytical comparison: Explaining the patterns of similarity and difference? Analytical comparison: Explaining the patterns of similarity and difference? Choice of method implies some choice of conceptual/theoretical framework: How do we know what to compare? Choice of method implies some choice of conceptual/theoretical framework: How do we know what to compare?