Starving the Beast: Using Tax Policy and Governmental Budgeting to Drive Social Policy

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy M. Hageman ◽  
Vicky Arnold ◽  
Steve G. Sutton
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Tax Policy ◽  
Wealth Distribution ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Leo Strauss ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Social Agenda ◽  
Anthropological Study ◽  
Comprehensive Framework

ABSTRACT: This study explores the philosophical and theoretical bases underlying U.S. tax and social policy for over 25 years in order to develop a comprehensive framework from which to evaluate the intended and actual effects on wealth distribution and social policy overall. The framework provides a basis for understanding the overarching social agenda of neoconservative leadership as it advocates what has become known as Starve the Beast (STB). The STB strategy focuses on altering taxation structures in order to facilitate desired reallocations in government budgets to effect change in social policy. This study explores the roots of STB beginning with the political philosophy of Leo Strauss, followed by the adaptation of Strauss's philosophy by Irving Kristol (the godfather of neoconservatism) in establishing the basic tenets of neoconservative political theory, and the marriage of neoconservatism with supply-side economics to increase popular support. Through this anthropological study, 11 propositions evolve during the development of a comprehensive view of a complex social policy underlying STB strategies designed to promote wealth retention, less progressive tax rate structures, less spending on social programs, and greater national focus on defense, security, and patriotism. The resulting framework has implications for future tax policy research, as well as enhancing our understanding of the influence of the neoconservative movement on the greater accounting environment.

Non-ordained

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine Kraybill
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Women Religious ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Female Leadership ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Religious Congregations ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Institutional Church

The Catholic Church, constructed on an all-male clerical model, is a hierarchical and gendered institution, creating barriers to female leadership. In interviewing members of the clergy and women religious of the faith, this article examines how female non-ordained and male clerical religious leaders engage and influence social policy. It specifically addresses how women religious maneuver around the institutional constraints of the Church, in order to take action on social issues and effect change. In adding to the scholarship on this topic, I argue that part of the strategy of women religious in navigating barriers of the institutional Church is not only knowing when to act outside of the formal hierarchy, but realizing when it is in the benefit of their social policy objectives to collaborate with it. This maneuvering may not always safeguard women religious from institutional scrutiny, as seen by the 2012 Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, but instead captures the tension between female religious and the clergy. It also highlights how situations of institutional scrutiny can have positive implications for female religious leaders, their policy goals and congregations. Finally, this examination shows how even when women are appointed to leadership posts within the institutional Church, they can face limitations of acceptance and other constraints that are different from their female religious counterparts working within their own respective religious congregations or outside organizations.

The development of social policy research in Israel

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-469
Author(s):  
John Gal ◽  
Roni Holler
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Policy Research

Rejoinder: Contradictions and Irony in Policy Research

1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Morales ◽  
Steven Balkin ◽  
Joseph Persky
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Informal Sector ◽  
Real World ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
Negative Effects

We have been stimulated by this exchange on both personal and intellectual levels. Intellectual pursuits have been subdivided by scholars with various interests. However, specialization is not in itself an evil, except when it constrains fruitful analysis of empirical issues that have real-world implications for social policy and people's lives. Problems of social life and social policy typically speak to and provoke scholars of all kinds. Hence opportunities to investigate empirical interests from a variety of perspectives are opportunities forus all to learn the strengths and limitations of our tools. We wish this kind of discussion about the importance of the informal sector and marketplaces had occurred before the destruction of the Maxwell Street Market. This exchange might have further informed policy decisions and perhaps avoided some of the negative effects of dismantling the market. Nonetheless, we thank those who commented for their thoughtful responses. We agree with many but not all of their views, as the responses below suggest. Our methodology involved integrating ethnography and analytical economics; throughout, we have tried to strike a reasonable balance between analysis and participation.

scholarly journals Selected Social Policy Instruments in Relation to Tax Policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimíra Žofčinová ◽  
Zuzana Horváthová ◽  
Andrea Čajková
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Minimum Wage ◽  
Tax Policy ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Social Function ◽  
The State ◽  
Tax Collection ◽  
Subsistence Minimum ◽  
The Social

Tax sovereignty is now an expression of the phenomenon of state power. In general, there is a widespread but also accepted view that a citizen is dependent on the state and the state is dependent on tax resources. The social status of a citizen in the state is of great importance; it affects the development of personality and, last but not least, reflects the degree of democracy acquired in a particular state. Various tax law measures for the benefit of the citizen are important for the identification of social behavior and are an attempt to improve certain ways of life. The aim and ambition of this article is to emphasize the tools of social policy (e.g., minimum wage, subsistence minimum, social right to work) that are related to the social function of taxing income. In this context, the authors deal with a social function of tax collection and imposing of taxes, justice in taxation, and point out social aspects of the system of taxes in the Slovak Republic. In this article, the authors present the attitudes of both critics and proponents. It also deals with tax justice, which is often a category subjective to the evaluator. The benchmarking attribute of tax collection should be that citizens will have the certainty of social justice in the state and will therefore pay attention to the minimum wage and subsistence minimum as an integral part of tax policy under the legal conditions of the Slovak Republic. All tax legislation, especially tax reform, is perceived with a certain sensitivity regarding tax subjects.

The Research Relationship: Practice and Politics in Social Policy Research.

Man ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 407
Author(s):  
Angela Cheater ◽  
G. C. Wenger
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Research Relationship

Tax Policy as Social Policy: Cafeteria Plans, 1978–1985

1987 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Fox ◽  
Daniel C. Schaffer
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Tax Policy

scholarly journals Building Research Capacity and Organizational Empathy Among Students: Making Connections Beyond the Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Durksen ◽  
Shannon Struck ◽  
Alexandra Guemili ◽  
Soomin Han ◽  
Emily Brownell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Administrative Data ◽  
Linked Data ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Data Repositories ◽  
Linked Administrative Data

IntroductionThe leveraging of multi-sector, whole-population, linked administrative data is advantageous for conducting research on complex real-world problems. However, such large and complex data repositories can sometimes appear impersonal and overwhelming. Establishing organizational empathy (OE) in thecontext of a multi-sector partnership between academic, government and community representatives can help us understand the data better for social policy research. Evidence stemming from this research can then inform policy decisions, ultimately increasing the potency of linked data analysis and creating more meaningful student experiences. Our objective is to examine the role of OE in the student research experience. Objectives and ApproachSPECTRUM (Social Policy Evaluation Collaborative Team Research at Universities in Manitoba) is a multi-disciplinary partnership working to provide evidence-based solutions to ‘wicked’ social issues by using linked data from multiple sectors. SPECTRUM provides fellowships to students to become partners in the collaboration. Students have participated in quarterly workshops, building relationships with community leaders, government decision-makers and academic researchers. Students are from various faculties, bringing their unique frameworks and research interests to the collective. Through OE, students observeand participate in SPECTRUM, relating its goals and outcomes to society and their own research. ResultsStudent inclusion in SPECTRUM enhances the partnership by providing a greater range of perspectives and facilitates the development of OE among SPECTRUM members. Students are using linked administrative data, while actively engaging in dialogue with stakeholders, thereby enriching their knowledge and understanding of research. Conclusion / ImplicationsData linkage involves more than just use of the repository; it requires establishing common ground since the data have different meaning to each partner. OE developed through SPECTRUM provides invaluable insight into and context for the data. Knowledge transfer among members of the partnership will enrich SPECTRUM’s research outcomes while building capacity among Students.

Ungleichheit, Sozialstaat und demokratische Repräsentation: Marktkorrigierende Politik durch den Medianwähler?

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Dallinger
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Median Voter ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Electoral System ◽  
The Political ◽  
Welfare Programs ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Income Disparities ◽  
Government Responsiveness

AbstractPolitical 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.

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