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[ombating poverty and inequality] Universal provision of social services
Hypher, Nicola Yi, Ilcheong
Hypher, Nicola
Yi, Ilcheong
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Abstract
"Social services – in areas such as health, education, care, water and sanitation – can enhance individual well-being, raise productivity and contribute to overall quality of life. Such services enable families to care for and sustain their members and reduce both the costs and time involved in work and other daily activities. They increase the chances that individuals and their families can lift themselves out of poverty and live dignifi ed and productive lives. The kinds, quantity and quality of services individuals enjoy provide a good measure of their well-being: indeed, poverty can be perceived as a failure to achieve certain basic capabilities arising in part from the absence of social services.1 The instrumental value of services, particularly education and health care, in promoting growth and alleviating poverty and inequality is now widely acknowledged in policy circles. Evidence clearly demonstrates the complementarities among different services (health, education, water, sanitation and nutrition, for example), as well as between social service provision and other economic policy goals. Moreover, access to certain social services, specifi cally education and health care, is considered a right enshrined in numerous United Nations declarations. It is a key goal of rights-based approaches to development and an essential element in the achievement of most Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This chapter argues that a universal approach to the provision of social services is essential to realizing their full potential as a component of transformative social policy. Achieving broad-based and inclusive coverage can contribute not only to improved well-being, but also to enhanced productivity and earnings. In addition, it can reduce inequalities across income, class, gender, ethnicity and location. The challenge of extending effective provision to populations often marginalized or excluded as a result of these inequalities lies at the heart of efforts to reduce poverty and reach the MDG targets. As argued throughout this report, narrowly targeted interventions may make inroads into particular aspects of poverty among specifi c population groups. However, without broad-based coverage that aims to redress inequalities and generate solidarity around development goals, these gains may not be sustainable. Narrowly targeted interventions may make inroads into aspects of poverty among specifi c groups; however these gains may not be sustainable"(pg 161)
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Book chapter
Date
2010
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9789290850762
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With permission of the license/copyright holder