The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Department of Social Work SOWK Introduction to Social Policy. Final Paper

Transcription

1 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Department of Social Work SOWK 3340 Introduction to Social Policy Final Paper Instructor: Prof. DAI, Haijing, Ph.D., M.S.W. Name: Tam Wing Man Date of submission:

2 Introduction Poverty is always a problem for all the countries in the world including developed and developing countries so governments have different policies to solve the problem. In this essay, the importance of policies of poverty relief in solving social problems will be discussed. Then the programs and policies of Taiwan and Hong Kong dealing with the problem of poverty will be compared and explained by theoretical perspectives. At last, the policies will be evaluated by social work perspective to see if they are consistent with social justice and social work values. Poverty Relief As mentioned, poverty is always a common problem that all countries face so poverty relief is an important area for government to do. According to the report being done by Human Development Report Office (2014), there is half of the population in the world only has US$2.50 to live each day. In 2013, ratio of poverty to wealth was 88 to 1 compared with 11 to 1 twenty years ago. The statistics show that poverty and income inequality is serious around the globe. Although more and more countries are developed and wealthier, the income gap between the rich and poor are becoming larger and larger which makes many people in the world still live in poverty. Due to the fact that many countries emphasize on market development with neo-liberalism ideology that there should be minimal intervention of government, the rich benefit. Since the poor are left behind, income inequality exists. 2

3 Therefore, poverty relief work is greatly needed. There are many definition of poverty and one of the definitions is inadequate private income or consumption. In a broader perspective, it also means absence of a secure and sustainable livelihood (Leonard, 2006, P.1308). In other words, poverty relief is not only helping poor people to have more money, it is helping them to have a better living. Under the unequal society, people cannot even maintain a living. As a result, poverty relief should be given by government in different forms such as cash assistance and creation of employment to help people in the society. Policies This paper has chosen Taiwan and Hong Kong as the two places to compare. They are chosen because firstly these two places are Chinese societies with similar cultural background. Different cultural background may have very different attitudes, perspectives towards a problem, so it will be hard to compare. Secondly, the economic condition and competitiveness of the two countries are also similar. As stated in Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) done by Switzerland- based World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2014, Hong Kong is at the position of 7 th while Taiwan is at 14 th (Li, 2014). It reflects the economic condition and society are similar and easy to compare. Although both countries have rapid economic development, their societies still face poverty problem. Gini coefficient is used to show income inequality of a country. The higher 3

4 the coefficient, the higher the income inequality is while coefficient 1 is the highest. In 2011, Hong Kong and Taiwan s Gini coefficient were 0.54 and 0.42 respectively (Social Indicators of Hong Kong, 2011). It shows poverty problem and income inequality is similar in these two places. Since the situations in both places are similar, the paper uses them to explore what is the difference between governments policies under similar situation. 1. Taiwan On 17 th July, 2000, Taipei City Government has launched a three-year program called Taipei Family Development Accounts (TFDAs). The program was suggested by a group of scholars and policy makers to solve the problem of poverty. After some debates and discussion in public, it is assigned as an experimental program to help low- income families to accumulate their assets for future by giving matched saving accounts. It is different from traditional anti- poverty program because it provides chances for families with low- income to achieve economic self- sufficiency (Li, 2004). There were 184 low- income families enrolled in the program. Low- income households have eligibility, but not all of them have conditionality to join the program. The families must be current welfare recipients, employed for at least three months with a per capita income below 60 percent of mean consumption expenditure income level which equals to NT $10, 479 per person each month (Li, 2004, P. 6). If the participants were unemployed for three months during the program, they would be referred to case manager for assistance of 4

5 occupation and no more savings would be matched. At last, only 100 savings accounts were matched with the program s collaboration partner, a stock firm with the rate of 1 to 1. Every participant has to open an account and choose saving level from NT$2,000 to 4,000. At first, it is fixed that the level remains for the three years. However, it is changed to allow participants to adjust their saving level every half a year after they requested. Also, participants have to attend classes to learn knowledge such as investment, credit, making educational plans and so on regularly, so that they can know how to accumulate assets and make good use of the money (Li, 2004). After three years, 69 families completed the program with around NT$286, 019 each account and 65 of them have used savings to get assets that they wanted. Some of them have purchased homes, opened small business, and became shareholders. 31 participants also sent their children to college and graduate school (Li, 2007). Due to the success of TFDAs, some Taiwan city governments have also initiated other programs with similar concepts such as Youth Development Account, Sunshine Career Development Account and Hope Project for the Second Generation program to help solve the poverty problem in society (Li, 2007, P. 2). 2. Hong Kong Hong Kong does not have many poverty relief policies and programs. The most famous policy is Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme (CSSA) which has been 5

6 used to help poor people in society since It is the main policy of government to assist poor people in society through providing cash assistance to them to help them meet basic needs. People who are Hong Kong residents, have held Hong Kong resident status or have resided in Hong Kong for more than a year are eligible to apply or even receive CSSA (Social Welfare Department, 2014, P. 3). However, applicants have to pass financial tests including income and asset tests to have conditionality to receive it. If applicants live with family members, then all assets and income will be considered together to determine conditionality. Only those whose total assessable monthly household income are not enough to support the whole family and total value of capital asset have not exceed the limit can pass the financial tests and receive CSSA (Social Welfare Department, 2014). Government gives those people a certain amount of money to sustain their life so the amount is not huge. For example, an adult with able body aged below 60 can receive HK$ 2,155 each month (Social Welfare Department, 2014, P. 16). The payments include standard rates, supplements and special grants. Standard rates are basic payment to all recipients while supplements are given to special condition like single parents, need of residential care and having difficulties in giving transport fees to support poor people more. At last, special grants are aimed at elderly, disabled and chronically ill people (Social Welfare Department, 2014). 6

7 Theoretical perspective 1. Taiwan: asset- based welfare The TFDAs program is apparently an asset- based model which government helps to accumulate assets. Assets are values that can be changed in market such as insurance, stock, financial account and so on. Asset- based welfare policy is based on two concepts. The first is that poor people are able to save as well as accumulate assets. The second concept is assets have its positive effects on social, civic and psychological (Moser & Dani, 2008). Therefore, helping poor people to accumulate assets is suggested. It is hoped that people will have more long term planning and goals towards future after having more assets because people have more security (Sodha, Lister & Institute for Public Policy Research (London, England), 2006). When people have more assets, they will feel more secure and safe to think and plan about future. Therefore, assets- based welfare is to help people accumulate assets to have long- term wealth. The TFDAs program is assets- based welfare because it helps participants to save certain amount into the saving account each month to accumulate wealth ranging from NT$2,000 to NT$4,000. After three years, the duration of program ends, participants can accumulate money with around NT$286, 019 in each account. People can purchase assets that they want like housing, owing a small business (Li, 2004). 7

8 2. Hong Kong: cash assistance CSSA is a cash assistance to alleviate poverty problem through providing cash to poor people. Cash assistance welfare means the provision of resources through financial transfers according to definition (Segal, Gerdes, Steiner & Segal, 2007, P. 54). The resources usually are in terms of money. Government provides money to people in need base on their need and the number of family members. The aim is to help poor people maintain their living and meet very basic needs such as food instead of helping people to get out of poverty in the long- run. Under CSSA, people receive a certain amount of money base on their need and the number of people in families. After the financial test, qualified applicants will receive money each month. For example, an able- bodied elderly with at least 60 years old receives HK$3,055 every month (Social Welfare Department, 2014, P.16). If people have special needs, they may receive supplements and special grants other than standard rates. However, all the assistances are in terms of money to support the poor people in society. In addition, the amount of supplements is fixed such as HK$285 for residential care supplements while special grants are mainly based on several requirements to determine how much the amount of money should be given (Social Welfare Department, 2014, P.18). 8

9 Social Work Perspective 1. Social justice There are many definitions of social justice, but basically it means enabling all members of society to have same basic rights, protection, opportunities. It should also confront discrimination, oppression and institutional inequalities (Barker, 2003, P ). Under social justice, people in society should have the same rights and receive same opportunities. It emphasizes on equality and human s dignity and worth. Therefore, government should strive for helping the poor and weak side of people in society. Most importantly, government s policies should address the unequal and unfair situation in the society and try to change it or help people who are in need to get out of the situation to have better living. Both policies basically suit social justice because they strive to help poor people in the society. Both policies concept is to help poor people to at least meet their basic needs. Giving people cash or helping them to accumulate assets under TFDAs program is to assist people to have money to maintain living and basic needs. People can even accumulate assets and having better living in the future. However, CSSA in Hong Kong are not enough. Although the cash assistance can help financially, which serves a bit of protection and meeting basic rights, the amount is small and can only help in terms of short run. It is not confronting or helping people get out of oppression or discrimination. Under little amount of 9

10 cash assistance, the recipients can hardly get out of poverty. TFDAs program has social justice because it can help people to get rid of poverty in the long- run through accumulating assets. People can improve their situation and may get rid of poverty at the end to stay away from oppression to the poor in society. The program tries to give equal opportunities to the poor families to have wealth and improve their situation. Although TFDAs suits social justice, there is still room for improvement. The program can only benefit 100 participants. After this pilot program, more pilot programs were launched. However, the duration and the number of participants are limited. Not many people who are in need can be helped. As a result, only a small number of people are given equal opportunities to get rid of poverty. It is suggested that government may make the program becomes a policy to help more poor people to move out from poverty and apply social justice. Although becoming a policy involves a lot of resources and money like matching accounts with financial consultants, government may modify to match one financial consultant to several accounts instead of 1:1. 2. Social Work values According to the Code of Ethics of Social Workers Registration Board, the policies are consistent with social work values. In the basic Social Work values, workers are required to help people who are in need and address the problems in the society (Social Workers Registration Board, 2010). Also, Social Work values as being stated in NASW Standards for 10

11 the Classification of Social Work Practice (1981), workers should commit to social change in order to meet the needs of people. Under the two policies, both are them are trying to help poor people in the societies and the policies are addressing the poverty problem in societies. The policies aims are similar to meet the financial need of poor people and address to the poverty problem in society. However, CSSA in Hong Kong may not be able to commit social change. By providing minimum amount of cash assistance to poor people, it is difficult for them to get out of poverty and leads the society to have less income inequality. On the other hand, TFDAs program can achieve social change by helping poor people get out poverty through accumulating assets and have higher social mobility. If the duration of program is longer, the effect of social change can be larger. In addition, social workers should respect unique value and dignity of every human being irrespective of one s economic status (Social Workers Registration Board, 2010, P.2). The two policies basically value the dignity of poor people that they should be helped. Being poor is not a sin and they have worth, so government should help them. However, many people criticize CSSA in the society. Since the amount is small, people can hardly get out of poverty and they can only maintain their living. It is doubt that whether government really treat poor people as a worthy human being. If the answer is yes, then the amount should not be so limited that recipients need to continue to rely on CSSA to maintain living. 11

12 Conclusion Poverty relief is an area that governments of all countries need to continue to put effort on it. Instead of just providing cash assistance to sustain basic living of people and solve the problem in short-run as a very traditional poverty relief policy. Governments need to think of other innovative policies or programs to help poor people in long- run and help them to get rid of poverty. In terms, it can promote social change and address the social inequality in society. Otherwise, poverty problem in society will remain. 12

13 References: Barker, R. L., 2003, The Social Work Dictionary (5th ed.). Washington, DC: NASW Press. Human Development Report Office (2014). The Human Development Report. United States. Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme. Leonard, T. M. (2006). Encyclopedia of the developing world. New York: Routledge. Li, C.C. (2007). Asset-based Policy in Taiwan: Demonstrations and Policy Progress. Missouri. Center for Social Development. Li, C.C. (2004). Developing Family Development Accounts in Taipei: Policy Innovation from Income to Assets. London, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion. Li, J. (2014, September 17). Taiwan Drops 2 Notches to 14th in GCI for 2014: WEF. Global Export Media, Retrieved from Moser, C. O. N., & Dani, A. A. (2008). Assets, livelihoods, and social policy. Washington, DC: World Bank. National Association of Social Workers. (1981). NASW standards for the classification of social work practice. Silver Spring, Md: National Association of Social Workers. Segal, E. A., Gerdes, K. E., Steiner, S., & Segal, E. A. (2007). An introduction to the 13

14 profession of social work: Becoming a change agent. Belmont, CA: Thomson--Brooks/Cole. Sodha, S., Lister, R., & Institute for Public Policy Research (London, England). (2006). The saving gateway: From principles to practice. London: Institute for Public Policy Research. Social Indicators of Hong Kong (2011). Gini Coefficient. Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Social Workers Registration Board (2010). Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers. Hong Kong. Social Workers Registration Board. Social Welfare Department (2014). A Guide to Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. Hong Kong, Social Welfare Department. Social Welfare Department (2014). Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. Hong Kong, Social Welfare Department. 14