Day 5: Goals: Welfare
Daniel J. Mallinson
Political Science
Stockton University
[email protected]
POLS 2190
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February 2, 2016
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Road map
Learn about welfare as a goal of public policy
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February 2, 2016
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What comes to mind...
... when you hear the term welfare and welfare as a goal
of public policy?
Preamble to the Constitution
We the People of the United States, in Order to
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general
Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States
of America.
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Welfare
Big Questions
How should we define welfare?
How do we distinguish need and desire?
How do we measure welfare?
How should government “promote the general
welfare” (Preamble)
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Definition of Welfare
“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
Difficult to define
Practically defined through differentiating need and desire
Need puts boundaries on public responsibility for welfare
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Basic Definition of Need
Things necessary for survival
So what do we need that government should provide?
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February 2, 2016
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Basic Definition of Need
Things necessary for survival
So what do we need that government should provide?
Definition of need is a political contest
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Abraham Maslow
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February 2, 2016
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Stone’s Dimensions
Material vs. Symbolic
Needs have symbolic meaning
Identity and culture becomes important
Political battles:
Balance of minority and majority identities
Proper accommodations
Conflicting political cultures
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February 2, 2016
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Stone’s Dimensions
Intrinsic vs. Instrumental
Is survival enough?
What about being a productive citizen?
Instrumental reasons often given during policy debates
Appeals to collective needs
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February 2, 2016
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Stone’s Dimensions
Volatility vs. Security
Prospect Theory (Kahneman and Tversky)
Sensitivity to loss
Examples: Social security, Medicaid, welfare, jobless benefits
However, we still prioritize risks
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February 2, 2016
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Stone’s Dimensions
Quantity vs. Quality
Things that are difficult to quantify can be the most important
Examples?
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February 2, 2016
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Stone’s Dimensions
Quantity vs. Quality
Things that are difficult to quantify can be the most important
Examples?
How, then, do we measure welfare/well-being?
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February 2, 2016
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Stone’s Dimensions
Individual Needs vs. Relational Needs
Relational needs are real, difficult to provide
Not captured by rational model
Politics forces translation into more tangible claims
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February 2, 2016
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Stone’s Dimensions
Absolute vs. Relative Needs
Absolute: fixed definition of need
Relative: Conditional on where you are situated
Comparison to those around you, not abstract standard
Necessities evolve
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February 2, 2016
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Paradox of Progress
“ This is the paradox of progress: instead of fulfilling
needs, it creates rising expectations and new needs.”
(Stone, 99)
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How Government Defines Need
A claim must be demanded
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February 2, 2016
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How Government Defines Need
A claim must be demanded
Some methods:
Eligibility requirements
Hearings and public claims
Budgets
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February 2, 2016
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How Government Defines Need
A claim must be demanded
Some methods:
Eligibility requirements
Hearings and public claims
Budgets
Public good: inherent characteristic
Public need: determined in a political process
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February 2, 2016
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Moral Hazard
Definition: lack of incentive to guard against risk where one is
protected from its consequences
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February 2, 2016
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Moral Hazard
Examples: Corporate and individual welfare
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February 2, 2016
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Moral Hazard
Stone takes bright view of individual behavior. What do you
think?
How do we examine the claims of moral hazard in public policy?
Does it affect individuals and groups (e.g., corporations)
differently?
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February 2, 2016
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Welfare
Big Questions
How should we define welfare?
How do we distinguish need and desire?
How do we measure welfare?
How should government “promote the general welfare”
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February 2, 2016
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