Social Policy and Poverty in East Asia The Role of Social Security [Paperback]

This book looks at the role of social policy and particularly social security in addressing the ongoing challenge of poverty in East Asia despite the regions spectacular experience of economic growth in decent decades. The East Asian miracle resulted over the last four decades in a transformation of the regions traditional agrarian economies and significant increases in standards of living for many ordinary people. Even though it was given little attention, poverty has remained an ongoing problem. The problem became particularly evident however with the Asian financial crisis of 1997 when many low income and middle class workers became unemployed. As a result of this crisis, the need for effective social policies and social security programs were recognized. The idea that economic growth would solve the problem of poverty was increasingly challenged. Even in China today, where rapid growth has created new employment opportunities and the promise of prosperity for many, the government has recognized that the problem of poverty cannot be addressed only through economic growth but that comprehensive social policies must be formulated, and this includes the development of an effective security system. 

 

Part I: Introduction and Context  Introduction: Poverty and Social Policy Responses in East Asia Kwong-leung Tang and James Midgley  1. The Role of Social Security in Poverty Alleviation: An International Review James Midgley  Part II: Country Case Studies: Social Security in East Asia  2. The Emergence of Social Assistance in China: Challenges and Issues Joe Leung, and Xu Yuebin  3. Social Assistance Programmes in Singapore Mui-teng Yap  4. Koreas National Basic Livelihood Programme and Social Development JoonlÃp