Kwong-leung Tang

Introduction: social policy, economic growth and developmental welfare

Although the notion of developmental welfare is not new, it is only in recent times that its central premises have again attracted attention in social policy circles. Since developmental welfare offers an opportunity to challenge the neo-liberal claim that social expenditures harm the economy, and that economic development requires retrenchments in state welfare, more information about this approach is needed. This article discusses the developmental welfare approach with reference to neo-liberalisms current hegemonic influence on social policy. It traces the historical evolution of developmental welfare, discusses its theoretical implications and outlines its practical proposals.

Rape Law Reform in Canada: The Success and Limits of Legislation

This article reviews the major changes and impacts of rape law reform in Canada. It is held that the 1983 reform addressed some of the key issues relating to sexual assault. In spite of the 1983 legislation, it is clear that critical issues linger in many areas. These include underreporting of sexual assault; low founding, charging, and conviction rates; the status of rape-shield rules; and the defence of honest but mistaken belief of consent. Collective and social actions on the part of womens groups and education are seen as important policy tools to counter sexual assault in our society.

China: developmentalism and social security

China began its social security reform when the market-oriented economy was first promoted in the late 1970s. Initiatives have been taken to replace the employer-based labour insurance model with a largely social insurance model. However, it is a mistake to argue that China is pursuing a neo-liberal agenda in its social initiatives. Instead, the state has played a major role in the process. Based on a developmental analysis, it is argued that the direction of change is generally encouraging. The emerging social insurance programme has the following advantages: it widens coverage, facilitates economic development, seeks a minimum entitlement, fosters social integration, and enhances individual participation and responsibility. The creation of an economically and socially viable social insurance programme will support the economic development of the country in the twenty-first century.

East Asian Newly Industrializing Countries: Economic Growth and Quality of Life

The world is much impressed by the rapid economic development of four Asian Tigers – Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. However, it has often been taken for granted by many people that their social development is equally satisfactory. In order to investigate whether this belief is true or not, this paper looks at the levels of social development these countries have attained. Various measures of their quality of life will be assessed. Specifically, poverty, income distribution and environmental degradation are discussed. Despite their economic success, this study has found that most tigers are plagued by problems of poverty, increasing income disparities and environmental degradation. Further, social expenditures of these countries have been too limited to eliminate or impact on these problems.

Social development in China: Progress and problems

Abstract China has undergone spectacular economic growth in the last 15 years. Concomitant to this growth has been a rising standard of living. This article looks at various social indicators to gauge the extent of social development in China. Compared to other developing countries, China has made great srides in the United Nations Human Development Index. However, China is still beset with problems such as absolute poverty and growing income disparities. Social development is plagued by problems of inadequate social spending, inflation, and urban bias. The vulnerability of groups like women and rural migrants is also worring. It is argued here that such problems could be dealt with by the central government since it has deep financial reserves and political power. It remains to be seen if the government will do so, since the political will to redress these problems is obviously undermined by an increased acceptance of a neo-liberal approach to social policy which gives primacy to market and family suppor...

Asian crisis, social welfare, and policy responses : Hong Kong and Korea compared

Examines work investigating the impact of the crisis on social welfare policies two Asian countries — Hong Kong and Korea, and argues that these two states were not prepared for the crisis. States that Hong Kong is adopting a neoliberal approach to social welfare, contrasting this with Korea taking unprecedented steps to restructure the social security system, after its economy nearly collapsed, taking a more developmental approach to social policy. Posits that only time will tell whether Korea’s momentum of change can be sustained, while in Hong Kong social security policy will still be dictated by a neoliberal agenda in the near future.

Cultural Stereotypes and the Justice System: The Canadian Case of R. v. Ewanchuk

Cultural biases and stereotypes against victims of sexual assault are widespread among the judiciary in Canada. The recent Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling in the case ofR. v. Ewanchuk confirms the fear that cultural stereotyping about sexual assault is deeply embedded in the justice system. This case, in which the Supreme Court overturned the lower court’s finding of the availability of the implied-consent defense on the part of the accused, underscores the need to dispel such myths. There is another peculiar feature of this ruling. A few justices in this ruling approvingly referred to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and remarked that the Canadian government should be committed to implementing this convention in the domestic legal system. Although this reliance on international law serves to reinforce efforts at eliminating sexual and cultural myths, women’s groups must be vigilant about the lingering rape myths held by many judges in different layers of the court system.

Models of workplace training in North America: a review

The dominant workplace training model in North America is the behavioural approach which is well matched to the dominant concept of Taylorism in management. Nevertheless, this paradigm has been increasingly challenged by the worker‐centred model which is dissatisfied with the management‐centred tenet within the behavioural approach. Four factors can be attributed to the declining popularity of the behavioural model: social changes, new needs of capitalism, the importance of worker ownership, and attitudinal changes in mangement. Three emerging alternatives to the behavioural model are examined: action regulation theory, critical reflectivity perspective and ‘working‐class adult eduction’ approach. Though under strong challenge, the behavioural model is still influential.

Social Policy After the East Asian Financial Crisis: Forging a Normative Basis for Welfare

Abstract Despite their impressive economic development achievements, East Asian governments have not formulated coherent social policies or created comprehensive social welfare programs. Instead, they have relied on rapid economic growth, high employment, occupational provisions, familial obligations, and limited public social services to meet social needs. The weaknesses of this approach became apparent after the 1997 East Asian financial crisis when unemployment, poverty, homelessness, and other social problems increased. East Asian governments are now being urged to formulate a more coherent approach to social welfare, and two normative approaches which provide a basis for social policy are being considered; these are neoliberalism and social protection. Reviewing these approaches, this paper concludes that they are not well suited to the East Asian situation. Instead, it suggests that the social development approach with its emphasis on the harmonization of economic and social policy, extensive social investments, and managed pluralism offers a viable alternative which is compatible with the regions historic commitment to state-directed economic development.

Ageism and sexism at work: the middle-aged women of Hong Kong.

Employment discrimination against middle-aged women has recently captured public attention in Hong Kong. One reason is the economic slowdown and increasing unemployment since the 1993-94 and the 1997-to date economic downturns. This paper looks at sex and age discrimination against middle-aged women in colonial Hong Kong where they faced such problems as low labor force participation, occupational and industrial segregation and wage differentials, which in turn left them vulnerable to unemployment and poverty. Rampant age and sex discrimination in the workplace is due to a number of factors: traditional values and cultural devaluation of womens work and need for education, economic restructuring and labor importation, a legal vacuum, inefficient retraining policy, and the weak position of women in the labor movement. The postcolonial government under Tung Chee Hwa is heavily influenced by business interests. Women in the age group of 30-39 and above are hardest hit. They are not targeted as special groups of trainees who require special assistance. Given the limited concern for gender development on the part of the new government, the prospect for women workers does not look good.