Social Policy and Poverty in East Asia : The Role of Social Security

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 region’s spectacular experience of economic growth in decent decades. The East Asian miracle resulted over the last four decades in a transformation of the region’s 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. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Illustrations......Page 8 Contributors......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Part I Introduction and context......Page 16 Introduction: Poverty and social policy responses in East Asia......Page 18 1 The role of social security in poverty alleviation: An international review......Page 31 Part II Country case studies: Social security in East Asia......Page 60 2 The emergence of social assistance in China: Challenges and issues......Page 62 3 Social assistance programmes in Singapore......Page 81 4 Korea’s national basic livelihood programme and social development......Page 96 5 Welfare-to-work reform in Hong Kong: Overview and prospects......Page 114 6 Rural social protection in China: Reform, performance and problems......Page 131 Part III Innovations and issues of social policy and poverty in East Asia......Page 144 7 Building assets for the poor in Taiwan: Policy innovation from income to assets......Page 146 8 From microcredit to microinsurance: Creating social security where there is none......Page 157 9 The social investment fund of Thailand: New intermediaries for local development......Page 170 10 Knowledge of public policy and the perceived positive impact of the welfare benefits system......Page 182 11 Social security, housing policy and asset-building: The relevance of home ownership for elderly income protection in Hong Kong......Page 197 Index......Page 210 This Title Looks At The Role Of Social Policy, Particularly Social Security, In Addressing The Ongoing Challenge Of Poverty In East Asia Despite The Region's Spectacular Experience Of Economic Growth In Recent Decades. Poverty And Social Policy Responses In East Asia / Kwong-leung Tang And James Midgley -- The Role Of Social Security In Poverty Alleviation : An International Review / James Midgley -- The Emergence Of Social Assistance In China : Challenges And Issues / Joe Leung And Yuebin Xu -- Building Assets For The Poor In Taiwan : Policy Innovation From Income To Assets / Li-chen Cheng -- Korea's National Basic Livelihood Programme And Social Development / Joon Yong Jo -- Welfare-to-work Reform In Hong Kong : Overview And Prospects / Kwong-leung Tang -- Social Assistance Programmes In Singapore / Mui-teng Yap -- Rural Social Protection In China : Reform, Performance And Problems / Yuebin Xu And Xiulan Zhang -- From Micro-credit To Micro-insurance : Creating Social Security Where There Is None / Takayoshi Amenomori -- The Social Investment Fund Of Thailand / Shinichi Shigetomi -- Knowledge Of Public Policy And The Perceived Positive Impact Of The Welfare Benefits System / Chack-kie Wong And Kwong-leung Tang -- Social Security, Housing Policy And Asset-building : The Relevance Of Home Ownership For Elderly Income Protection In Hong Kong / James Lee. Edited By James Midgley And Kwong-leung Tang. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.