Welfare Reform on the Web (February 2002): Social Security - Overseas
THE GREAT TEST FOR US WELFARE
N. Timmins
Financial Times, Nov. 26th 2001, p. 22
In 1996 a five year time limit on welfare assistance was introduced in the USA. Combined with an increase in in-work benefits and on expansion of childcare provision, the reform succeeded in levering welfare recipients into low-paid jobs in the service sector. The US economy is now slowing and these jobs are disappearing. A full blown recession may see people fall into destitution when their five year entitlement to assistance is exhausted.
MAKING WELFARE SUBORDINATE TO MARKET ACTIVITIES: RECONSTRUCTING SOCIAL SECURITY IN HONG KONG AND MAINLAND CHINA
R. Chau and S. Yu
European Journal of Social Work, vol.4, 2001, p. 291-301
Both the Chinese and Hong Kong governments have recently introduced reforms to their social security systems which emphasize welfare residualism. Paper discusses the background of the reforms and demonstrates how they are designed to reduce the governments' commitments to meeting social needs. It focuses on changes to the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and the implementation of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) in Hong Kong, and the introduction of new unemployment and retirement insurance schemes and the minimum living standard guarantee system in China.
WELFARE REFORM IN WISCONSIN : THE LOCAL ROLE
L. M. Mead
Administration and Society, vol. 33, 2001, p. 525-554
Article points out that many key features of welfare-to-work in Wisconsin were developed at the local level and then applied state-wide. High participation in work programmes and an emphasis on "Work first" rather than training were developed first in Kenosha and other counties.