The Failure of Workfare: Another Reason for a Basic Income Guarantee
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Joel Handler
There has been a major shift in welfare policies in the developed world towards activation, decentralization, and privatization. The 1996 US welfare reform welfare for single mother families was no longer an entitlement and there were stiff work requirements enforced by sanctions and time limits. In Western Europe, although there is variation, welfare has become conditional for social assistance recipients – the "socially excluded." Social assistance is administered at the municipal level, which contracts with private companies. Caseworkers are supposed to make individualized contracts emphasizing work activities. This paper examines the field-level data in several US programs and finds that there is a symbiotic relationship between governments and contractors; caseworkers, whether public or private, focus on process rather than substantive plans; government does not question the data; contracts are imposed; the most employable are placed; and the most vulnerable are sanctioned or otherwise not allowed on welfare. Research in some European countries is showing similar results – activation programs are difficult to administer and increase the risks for the most vulnerable. Individualized contracts are a myth, given administrative constraints and client dependency. The paper argues that the difficulties of activation are an additional reason for a basic income guarantee. The socially excluded will have an exit option and well-being will be improved.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Front Matter
- Content
- Launching a Basic Income Journal
- List of Contributors
- Research Article
- The Failure of Workfare: Another Reason for a Basic Income Guarantee
- Basic Income and Migration Policy: A Moral Dilemma?
- Why Trade Unions Oppose Basic Income
- A Capitalist Road to Communism
- Debate
- Notes on the Universal Grant Proposal
- Basic Income and the Value of Occupational Choice
- How Global is the Capitalist Road to Communism?
- A Scandalous Proposal: Ethical Attractions of Basic Income
- Capitalism Unbound? Peril and Promise of Basic Income
- Basic Income as a Socialist Project
- A Capitalist Road to Global Justice: Reply to Another Six Critics
- Book Review
- Review of John Cunliffe and Guido Erreygers, The Origins of Universal Grants
- Review of Tony Fitzpatrick and Michael Cahill, Environment and Welfare: Towards a Green Social Policy
- Review of Brian Barry, Why Social Justice Matters
- Review of Guy Standing, Beyond the New Paternalism: Basic Security as Equality
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Front Matter
- Content
- Launching a Basic Income Journal
- List of Contributors
- Research Article
- The Failure of Workfare: Another Reason for a Basic Income Guarantee
- Basic Income and Migration Policy: A Moral Dilemma?
- Why Trade Unions Oppose Basic Income
- A Capitalist Road to Communism
- Debate
- Notes on the Universal Grant Proposal
- Basic Income and the Value of Occupational Choice
- How Global is the Capitalist Road to Communism?
- A Scandalous Proposal: Ethical Attractions of Basic Income
- Capitalism Unbound? Peril and Promise of Basic Income
- Basic Income as a Socialist Project
- A Capitalist Road to Global Justice: Reply to Another Six Critics
- Book Review
- Review of John Cunliffe and Guido Erreygers, The Origins of Universal Grants
- Review of Tony Fitzpatrick and Michael Cahill, Environment and Welfare: Towards a Green Social Policy
- Review of Brian Barry, Why Social Justice Matters
- Review of Guy Standing, Beyond the New Paternalism: Basic Security as Equality
