Global Social Policy current issue

Global Social Policy Forum: Introduction: Reclaiming Primary Health Care -- Why Does Alma Ata Still Matter? Or Can We Still Speak of the Relevance of Alma Ata?

Koivusalo, M., Baru, R. — 2008-07-15

The World Health Organization's Decennial Ritual of `Remembering' the Alma Ata Declaration

Banerji, D. — 2008-07-15

Neoliberalism and its Consequences: The World Health Situation Since Alma Ata

Navarro, V. — 2008-07-15

Reflections on Alma Ata

Green, A. — 2008-07-15

Alma Ata and Social Movements

Narayan, T. — 2008-07-15

Establishing a Workforce of Globally Aware Health Professionals Alma Ata and Alma Mata Global Health Network

Hope, R., Nicholson, B., Baguley, D. — 2008-07-15

Re-Reading the Alma Ata Declaration: The Need to Say the Unsaid, to Do the Undone, and to Think for the 21st Century

Shukla, A. — 2008-07-15

Globalization and the Housing Asset Rich: Geographies, Demographies and Policy Convoys

Forrest, R. — 2008-07-15

This article explores the importance of housing assets in shaping the global landscape of opportunity and disadvantage. In doing so, it is concerned with four key issues. First, it seeks to highlight the increasing significance of housing related wealth at a global scale. Second, it is concerned with the uneven and potentially divisive impact of housing asset accumulation, within and between societies. Third, it seeks to show how economic, geo-demographic and policy contexts combine to produce different outcomes for different population cohorts. Fourth, it discusses the way in which more market driven housing systems and housing wealth accumulation are changing the social policy environment. The underlying argument of the article is that the dynamics of housing markets and housing assets are of growing significance in relation to contemporary patterns of risk, opportunity, vulnerability and privilege and need to be embraced more thoroughly in social policy debate.

From Structural Adjustment to Social Adjustment: A Gendered Analysis of Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes in Mexico and Nicaragua

Bradshaw, S. — 2008-07-15

The article explores the implications for gender roles and relations in Nicaragua of implementing a Conditional Cash Transfer programme aimed at improving the situation of the extreme poor. Nicaragua's programme, the Social Protection Network/Red de Protección Social (RPS), is modelled on the Progresa/Oportunidades programme of Mexico and shares many features in common. Evaluations of Progresa have suggested positive outcomes for women. However, examination of the findings highlight some cause for concern particularly around what inclusion on the programme means for the women involved. The article explores the consequences of translating this programme aimed at addressing the structural causes of poverty into a more overtly neoliberal and neo-conservative policy context such as that in Nicaragua. It highlights how a key feature of the RPS is the `social adjustment' of women's behaviour for economic growth gains and discusses the possible consequences for the women included and excluded from the programme.

Old Age Pensions, Poverty and Dignity: Historical Arguments for Universal Pensions

Kildal, N., Kuhnle, S. — 2008-07-15

AB STRACT The article refers to studies indicating that universal old age pension programmes alone or in combination with earnings-related schemes are conducive to poverty alleviation and less income inequality. Universalism matters, but few countries in the world have introduced universal old age pension programmes. The article does not research this apparent paradox, but asks the empirical question of whether poverty was a prime concern and reflected in arguments used in favour of universal old age pension when such programmes were introduced historically. What were the pro-arguments? The article looks at the arguments for establishing universal old age pension in three selected countries, all belonging to the group of pioneer countries in this respect: Canada, Mauritius and Norway, which all introduced universal pensions in the 1950s. Historical arguments for universal pension systems in these countries are presented and compared. The ambition to reduce poverty was an important motivation in two of the countries, but the main consideration cutting across all three countries was the moral aversion to means-testing and the desire to achieve fairness and respect to human dignity. Another argument found in all three countries was the pragmatic one that a universal scheme would lead to a reduction of the administrative cost of old age provision compared with a system based on means testing.

Pension Reform in Nigeria: How not to `Learn from Others'

Casey, B. H., Dostal, J. M. — 2008-07-15

While the Chilean pension reform has received considerable attention, its emulation in Nigeria has not. This article is the first in-depth analysis of the Nigerian reform. It suggests that the Nigerian authorities failed to learn the lessons of Chile. They transposed a system that both failed to serve the country from which it was copied and that is inappropriate to the country to which it was copied. For countries such as Nigeria, alternative forms of provision for old age are needed. A social pension might be considered.

Review Essay: Possibilities of Positive Social Action in the Middle East: A Re-Reading of the History of Social Policy in the Region

Jawad, R. — 2008-07-15

GSP Digest

2008-07-15