Rethinking the Welfare State: The prospects for ... - e-Library

Rethinking the Welfare State
This book offers a comprehensive and comparative analysis of social welfare policy in an
international context, with a particular emphasis on the US and Canada. The authors
investigate the claim that a decentralized delivery of government-supported goods and
services, enables policy objectives to be achieved in a more innovative, efficient and
responsive manner. They also examine the effectiveness of the voucher system as a
solution to problematic welfare concerns.
The voucher system, which includes all forms of government subsidy, whether in the
form of tax deductions, credits or means-tested consumer entitlements, places the
resources directly into the hands of citizens and allows them, rather than a government
agent, to determine which goods they will consume from competing private suppliers.
While this system has shown much promise in improving welfare, there have been
problems for institutions unable to attract enough voucher-assisted consumers to ensure
their survival.
In this context the authors examine major social programmes such as food stamps,
low-income housing, legal aid, health care, early childhood education, primary and
secondary education, post-secondary education and job training and other active labour
market policies. This book will be of interest to students of comparative politics, social
policy and economics.
Ronald J.Daniels is Dean and James M.Tory Professor of Law at the Faculty of Law
at the University of Toronto. His research and teaching interests encompass law and
development, corporate law, law and economics, the professions, and privatization of
government services. Michael J.Trebilcock is University Professor and Professor of
Law and Economics at the University of Toronto and Director of the Law and Economics
Programme there. His principal research interests relate to contract theory, competition
policy, economic and social regulation, international trade regulation, and law,
institutions and development.