POLY1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Social Security In Australia, Housing Tenure, Progressive Tax
Lecture 4 - Housing and Homelessness
Review:
5 political traditions + key features
3 ways equality can be conceptualised (Rawls 1972)
In/equality:
concepts which address the unequal distribution of resources
Systematically based rather than based on individual characteristics
inequality occurs along dimensions such as:
age
culture
Etc
Approaches to Redistribution: - RELEVANT TO SECOND ESSAY
vertical redistribution: redistribution according o need or capacity to pay (eg from rich -
> poor)
Justifies progressive tax system or services where access is based on need, not
ability to pay
Horizontal redistribution: people in similar situations (e.g. same life stage or with
similar needs) are given equal treatment
Justifies equal assistance such as family tax benefit or disability support
life cycle redistribution: related to horizontal - justifies policies to assist people achieve
reasonable wellbeing despite their particular stage in the life cycle
justifies taxing workers in order to provide pension payments
Efficiency + Effectiveness
terms associated with means of welfare
related to assessment of how we use resources
effectiveness: about whether the policy achieves the desired outcomes
Efficiency: about minimal use of resources in undertaking the policy
different versions of economic thought have different ideas
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find more resources at oneclass.com
e.g. neoliberal/economic rationalism thinks efficiency is achieved through the
unimpeded operation of the market rather than via govt services
universalism + targeting
associated with design of policies
Universalism: availability of assistance to all
targeting = policies that direct or restrict services to those in need
targeting on the basis of characteristics seen to reflect need
income, age, disability
seen as a way of meeting need efficiently
pros of targeting:
more support to vulnerable groups
less expensive
attempt to bring people to a level playing field
cons of targeting:
stigma
criteria may be inadequate
dont take into consideration factors affecting peoples abilities to meet criteria
separation of groups may undermine social solidarity
people less likely to want to pay taxes for services they cant use
Low take-up rates
poorer quality services
means=testing -> incentive/poverty trap
cant earn more than this because ill lose an entitlement
Distributional Analysis
analyses how a social policy differentially affects different sub-populations
male/female
age groups
income groups (or assets)
By geographical location
sexuality
dis/ability
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find more resources at oneclass.com
cultural/ethnic/religious identity
marriage equality example:
why do we do a distributional analysis?
to see who does/does not benefit
to analyse a current policy or a policy change
to analyse both the policy and/or its administration
Learning Objectives:
understand the significance of housing
identify different forms of housing tenure
explain what is meant by low income housing and the 30:40 indicator
Discuss the current issues impacting the housing market
identify the institutional arrangements of housing policy
the significance of housing:
shelter as a basic human need
eating, sleeping, intimacy, protection, security, storage, privacy
Facilitator of opportunity and wellbeing
Health, employment, social participation
emotional dimensions - notion of home
Memories, relationships, lifestyle, status, achievement
source of wealth (and debt)
major industry that is central to the economy and jobs
the great Australian dream
how did it come about?
political agenda to fight against communism
how is it perceived?
housing as a birth right
how is it changing?
types of housing tenure:
definition: financial arrangements under which someone has the right to live in a space
Home ownership
private renters
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
3 ways equality can be conceptualised (rawls 1972) In/equality: concepts which address the unequal distribution of resources. Systematically based rather than based on individual characteristics inequality occurs along dimensions such as: age culture. Approaches to redistribution: - relevant to second essay vertical redistribution: redistribution according o need or capacity to pay (eg from rich - Justifies progressive tax system or services where access is based on need, not ability to pay. Horizontal redistribution: people in similar situations (e. g. same life stage or with similar needs) are given equal treatment. Efficiency + effectiveness terms associated with means of welfare related to assessment of how we use resources effectiveness: about whether the policy achieves the desired outcomes. Low take-up rates poorer quality services means=testing -> incentive/poverty trap (cid:1684)can(cid:1685)t earn more than this because i(cid:1685)ll lose an entitlement(cid:1685) Distributional analysis analyses how a social policy differentially affects different sub-populations male/female age groups income groups (or assets)
