Volume 63, Issue 4

Political economy of redistribution and comparative social policy research view the median voter as the political force, which demands marketregulating social policy in periods of increased income disparities and to which governments – to be re-elected – must respond. However, government responsiveness has been questioned, especially the responsiveness for political demands of low-income households. Are even the preferences of the median voter only selectively addressed through politics? If the median voter is actually influential, its redistributive preferences should explain the outcome of government action, e.g. size of redistribution. Is this true? Based on a pooled dataset with observations between 1980 and 2012 for 13 OECD-countries it is shown that the political position of the median voter alone has no impact. Rather mediating political factors like a proportional electoral system and left parties with wider welfare programs provide for broader representation and more redistribution.

This paper examines the impacts of a German Social Law reform on the perceived quality of long-term home care. Taking a welfare economics perspective, an improved legal performance in addressing the personal needs of people depending on long-term care was found. Finally, recommendations to better adjust home care to the individual needs are given.

In German public law many legal norms award administrative discretion to authorities. This transition of decision-making from the legislative to the executive has recently increased. The article illustrates this development, which at first is placed in the context of the social rights approach. Afterwards the taxonomy of discretion is shown, and the rationales of areas of discretion in public and social law are discussed. In the third section, the increasing relevance of discretion in granting social benefits – or in imposing sanctions on recipients of benefits – is examined from a social work point of view using three examples in recent social legislation. Finally, the consequences of this development for social work and the required reactions by social work professionals and scholars are reflected.