Day 5: Goals: Welfare

Daniel J. Mallinson

Political ScienceStockton University

Daniel.Mallinson@stockton.edu

POLS 2190

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Road map

Learn about welfare as a goal of public policy

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What comes to mind...... when you hear the term welfare and welfare as a goalof public policy?

Preamble to the ConstitutionWe the People of the United States, in Order toform a more perfect Union, establish Justice,insure domestic Tranquility, provide for thecommon defence, promote the generalWelfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty toourselves and our Posterity, do ordain andestablish this Constitution for the United Statesof 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 generalwelfare” (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?

Definition of need is a political contest

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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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Stone’s DimensionsMaterial vs. Symbolic

Needs have symbolic meaning

Identity and culture becomes important

Political battles:

Balance of minority and majority identitiesProper accommodationsConflicting political cultures

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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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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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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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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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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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Stone’s DimensionsAbsolute 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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Paradox of Progress

“ This is the paradox of progress: instead of fulfillingneeds, it creates rising expectations and new needs.”(Stone, 99)

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How Government Defines Need

A claim must be demanded

Some methods:

Eligibility requirementsHearings and public claimsBudgets

Public good: inherent characteristic

Public need: determined in a political process

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How Government Defines Need

A claim must be demanded

Some methods:

Eligibility requirementsHearings and public claimsBudgets

Public good: inherent characteristic

Public need: determined in a political process

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How Government Defines Need

A claim must be demanded

Some methods:

Eligibility requirementsHearings and public claimsBudgets

Public good: inherent characteristic

Public need: determined in a political process

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Moral Hazard

Definition: lack of incentive to guard against risk where one isprotected from its consequences

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Moral Hazard

Examples: Corporate and individual welfare

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Moral Hazard

Stone takes bright view of individual behavior. What do youthink?

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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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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