The American Myth of Markets in Social Policy : Ideological Roots of Inequality

"The American Myth of Markets in Social Policy examines how implementing American tropes in policy design inadvertently frustrates policy goals. The book investigates multiple market-oriented designs including funding for private organizations to deliver public services, funding for individuals to buy services, and policies incentivizing or mandating private actors to provide social policy. Hevenstone shows that these solutions often not only fail to achieve social goals, but actively undermine them. The book carefully details the mechanisms through which this occurs, and examines several policies in depth, covering universal social insurance programs like healthcare and pensions, as well as smaller interventions like programs for the homeless. "-- "The American Myth of Markets in Social Policy examines how implementing ideas about markets in policy design inadvertently frustrates policy goals. Hevenstone examines policies ranging from universal social insurance programs to smaller targeted interventions, making her argument with both substantive empirical evidence as well as anecdote, which keeps the book accessible and entertaining"-- "The American Myth of Markets in Social Policy examines how implementing American tropes in policy design inadvertently frustrates policy goals. The book investigates multiple market-oriented designs including funding for private organizations to deliver public services, funding for individuals to buy services, and policies incentivizing or mandating private actors to provide social policy. Hevenstone shows that these solutions often not only fail to achieve social goals, but actively undermine them. The book carefully details the mechanisms through which this occurs, and examines several policies in depth, covering universal social insurance programs like healthcare and pensions, as well as smaller interventions like programs for the homeless."-- Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-7 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 Defining Social Goals: Pragmatism, Empiricism, and the Social Debate....Pages 11-48 Social Policy Design: Market-Oriented Solutions, Rationality, and Federalism....Pages 49-83 Front Matter....Pages 85-85 Labor Markets: Wages, the Employer’s Role, and Family Policy....Pages 87-118 Social Insurance: Health, Pensions, and Long-Term Care....Pages 119-174 Targeted Programs: Housing, Homelessness, and Youth Training....Pages 175-208 Social Pressure: Health Behaviors, Bullying, Prejudice, and Discrimination....Pages 209-233 Conclusion....Pages 235-244 Back Matter....Pages 245-291