scholarly journals The financial and administrative burden of financially vulnerable households

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernst-Jan de Bruijn
Keyword(s):  
Administrative Burden ◽  
Vulnerable Households

Human Capital and Administrative Burden: The Role of Cognitive Resources in Citizen-State Interactions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Christensen ◽  
Lene Aarøe ◽  
Martin Bækgaard ◽  
Pamela Herd ◽  
Donald P. Moynihan
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Administrative Burden

Financial capabilities development: essential discourse in social work

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 1234-1246
Author(s):  
Lambert K. Engelbrecht ◽  
Abigail Ornellas
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vulnerable Households ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose Within a neoliberal environment, financial vulnerability of households has become an increasing challenge and there is a requirement of financial literacy education, a necessary activity to facilitate sustainable development and well-being. However, this is seldom a mainstream discourse in social work deliberations. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach First, introducing the neoliberal impact on financial well-being and capability for vulnerable households, the authors’ postulation is substantiated on a seven-point argument. The contexts of financially vulnerable households are sketched. Second, a conceptualisation of financial literacy is offered, and third, perspectives on and approaches to financial literacy as a fundamental capability are presented. This is followed by a theoretical foundation of community education as a practice model in social work to develop financial capabilities. In the fifth place, prevailing practices of Financial Capabilities Development (FCD) programmes are offered. Subsequently, the implications of a neoliberal environment for social work practice are examined. Findings The revised global definition of social work encourages the profession to understand and address the structural causes of social problems through collective interventions. As a response, it is argued that community education towards FCD of vulnerable households within a neoliberal environment should be an essential discourse in social development. Originality/value The authors reflect on the significance of FCD, highlighting its contribution towards human security and sustainable development. Although this paper draws on Southern African contexts, the discourse finds resonance in other contexts across the world.

scholarly journals Does Energy Poverty Affect Energy Efficiency Investment Decisions? First Evidence from a Stated Choice Experiment

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1698
Author(s):  
Dimitris Damigos ◽  
Christina Kaliampakou ◽  
Anastasios Balaskas ◽  
Lefkothea Papada
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Information Campaigns ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Vulnerable Households

Energy poverty is a multidimensional and continuously growing societal problem, with political roots. In pursuit of mitigating the problem, the European Commission has adopted a bundle of policies, such as consumer protection measures, short-term financial interventions, motivations for energy efficiency (e.g., energy retrofits and replacement of old household appliance) and information campaigns, among others. There is no doubt, however, that increasing the income of vulnerable households would be the most preferred and effective option. Focusing on energy efficiency, a measure typically incorporated in the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of many Member States as a means to fight energy poverty, this paper aims to shed light on the need to gradually move towards more localized—not to say personalized—actions. In this direction, a labeled choice-based experiment is used, which involves a hypothetical selection between three alternative energy interventions, i.e., house retrofit, upgrading of heating system and upgrading of household electrical appliances. The research aims to integrate the preferences of households from the choice experiment with indicators of energy poverty and establish a connection between energy poverty and energy efficiency investment decisions. The results demonstrate that households’ preferences are affected by qualitative and quantitative aspects of energy vulnerability and sociodemographic characteristics. Furthermore, vulnerable households seem to be more prone to the so-called “discounting gap”, as previous studies also suggest. These findings are worrisome because, without tailor-made support, these households may never escape the vicious circle of energy poverty. To this end, the survey could provide useful information to policy-makers towards developing more robust policies of energy poverty alleviation.

scholarly journals Risk of Low Birth Weight According to Household Composition in Brussels and Montreal: Do Income Support Policies Variations Explain the Differences Observed between Both Regions?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7936
Author(s):  
Mouctar Sow ◽  
Myriam De Spiegelaere ◽  
Marie-France Raynault
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Household Composition ◽  
Income Support ◽  
Welfare Benefits ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Households With Children ◽  
Vulnerable Households ◽  
Welfare Families ◽  
The Impact

Variations in social policy between countries provide opportunities to assess the impact of these policies on health inequities. This study compares the risk of low birth weight in Brussels and Montreal, according to household composition, and discusses the impact of income support policies. For each context, we estimated the impact of income support policies on the extent of poverty of welfare recipients, using the model family method. Based on the differences found, we tested hypotheses on the association between low birth weight and household composition, using administrative data from the birth register and social security in each region. The extent of poverty of welfare families differs according to household composition. In Quebec, the combination of low welfare benefits and larger family allowances widens the gap between households with children and those without children. The risk of LBW also differs between these two contexts according to the number of children. Compared to children born into large welfare families, first-born children are more at risk in Montreal than in Brussels. In addition to the usual comparative studies on the topic, our study highlights the importance of an evaluative perspective that considers the combination of different types of income support measures to better identify the most vulnerable households.

scholarly journals Planned relocation in Peru: advancing from well-meant legislation to good practice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Bergmann
Keyword(s):  
Market Access ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Action ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Hazard Exposure ◽  
Material Conditions ◽  
Vulnerable Households ◽  
Strategic Solution

AbstractAlong Peru’s rainforest rivers, rising flood extremes are increasingly exceeding coping capacities of vulnerable households. Peru has detailed legislation that embraces planned relocation as a strategic solution to such situations and various relocation projects are underway across the country. This research brief analyzes well-being consequences for two communities requesting relocation, using qualitative data collected from experts and 30 affected people. Initial results emphasize that weak governance, poverty, third-party involvement, and community action have influenced relocation outcomes. Delays and fragmented implementation have threatened people’s well-being. One community, waiting for land to relocate since 2015, has suffered from continued hazard exposure, deteriorated material conditions, and reduced subjective well-being. The second community achieved relocation only after a decade in detrimental limbo. Although livelihood challenges persist, its inhabitants now benefit from better market access and decreased exposure, leading to higher subjective well-being. With rising needs for relocation worldwide, the cases highlight that detailed legislation is not sufficient to safeguard people’s well-being. Advancing from well-meant legislation to good practice requires adequate institutional capacity, effective mechanisms for oversight and accountability, better engagement of third parties, and dedicated efforts to strengthen community agency.

scholarly journals Privatizing the Welfare State

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 719-719
Author(s):  
Pamela Herd
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Welfare State ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Access To Care ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Interest Group ◽  
Women's Issues ◽  
Administrative Burden ◽  
Out Of Pocket Costs ◽  
The Welfare State

Abstract The growth of the private sector in the Medicare and Medicaid programs is a sea change, leading many to argue that the old age welfare state is effectively becoming privatized. I examine these trends, but focus on the consequences for how older adults experience their interactions with government. In particular, I examine how privatization increases administrative burden for beneficiaries. Older adults must navigate hundreds of choices, leading to significant confusion. Most fail to pick policies that maximize their benefits and reduce their cost. This confusion harms beneficiaries. They end up with suboptimal coverage, with increased out of pocket costs and decreased access to care. The confusion, however, generates profits for insurers. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Women's Issues Interest Group.

scholarly journals Household Vulnerability to Food Insecurity in Rural South Africa: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1917
Author(s):  
Sandile Mthethwa ◽  
Edilegnaw Wale
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Rural Household ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Household Vulnerability ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Vulnerable Households

Using a nationally representative dataset from rural areas in South Africa, the study examines vulnerability to food insecurity using the Vulnerability as Expected Poverty framework. The dataset used was large and comprehensive to develop robust profiles of vulnerable households. This is executed employing the sustainable livelihoods framework. The findings show that human and financial capital plays a critical role in making rural households resilient from vulnerability to food insecurity. The failure of natural resources to support agricultural livelihoods emerged as an important factor for rural household vulnerability to food insecurity. Gender-based imbalances still prevail, explaining most of the rural household vulnerability to food insecurity. Female-dominated households still endure most of the prevailing vulnerabilities to food insecurity, and this is even worse for households headed by younger females. Policies, strategies, and institutions in South Africa have not been able to address household vulnerability to food insecurity. The study identified Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal as the most vulnerable provinces where food policy has to be a top priority agenda.

The Burden of Excessive “Linking Social Capital”

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 760-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Rubin
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Bridging Social Capital ◽  
Vulnerable Communities ◽  
Linking Social Capital ◽  
Bonding And Bridging ◽  
Vulnerable Households ◽  
North Vietnam ◽  
The Relationship

This article analyses the relationship between vulnerable households and local authorities during floods using the concept of linking social capital. The analysis combines a narrow operationalisation that measures the stock of linking social capital in vulnerable communities, with a broader operationalisation that seeks to address the nature of linking social capital. The empirical data, collected across four provinces in Central and North Vietnam, suggests that while a substantial stock of social linking capital exists in the vulnerable communities concerned, the nature of the relationship between the communities and local authorities during floods is characterised by top-down linkages and limited community autonomy. These linkages appear to be susceptible to social inertia during times of stress. They also undermine the development and reproduction of strong bonding and bridging social capital.

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