Robert D. Weaver

Devolution and the Poverty Reduction Effectiveness of Canada's Provincial Social Welfare Programs: Results from a Time-Series Investigation of a Canadian National Survey

The process of devolution initiated in the mid-1990s dramatically changed the landscape of social welfare policy within Canada. This study assesses the impact of devolution on the poverty reduction effectiveness of Canadas provincial social welfare programs by analyzing data obtained from a series of nationally representative surveys for the years 1996 to 2005. The primary finding was that the overall poverty reduction effectiveness of the provinces declined during a decade of devolution. The implications of the studys findings are discussed, including their relevance for advocacy efforts aimed at reducing poverty and the future direction of research on social welfare policy.

Fresh Start: A Meta-Analysis of Aftercare Programs for Juvenile Offenders.

Objectives: A meta-analysis was conducted in order to generate more understanding regarding the efficacy of aftercare programs in reducing the recidivism rates of juvenile offenders reentering their communities following a period of custody. Method: 30 eligible primary studies were obtained through a systematic literature review and were coded. Recidivism was the outcome variable and 11 moderating variables were grouped according to either a sample, treatment, methodological, or study characteristic. A summary effect size was computed while moderator analyses and meta-regression were also conducted. Results: The summary effect size of aftercare programs was non-significant but subgroup univariate and multivariate analyses yielded significant treatment effects for samples of youth who averaged over 16.5 years of age and whose predominant index offense was violent. Well-implemented aftercare programs also yielded substantial treatment effects. Conclusion: The findings suggest that under specific conditions aftercare can reduce recidivism rates for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

Analyzing the Impact of Bonding and Bridging Social Capital on Economic Well-Being: Results from Canada's General Social Survey

In this study we analyze nationally representative data from Canadas General Social Survey to investigate how various indicators of bonding and bridging social capital are associated with economic well-being and how the magnitude of their associations compare with each other. Our findings suggest that several dimensions of bonding social capital, including knowing neighbors well enough to ask favors of them and providing assistance to others, are positively associated with economic well-being. The studys indicators of bridging social capital were also linked to increases in the participants’ economic well-being. When comparing the associations of bonding and bridging social capital we ascertained that bridging social capital in the form of group membership, including Internet group membership and participation in groups, had a more robust association than any of the indicators of bonding social capital. We consider the implications of the studys findings in light of a technologically-advanced yet volatile economy.

Endogenous social capital and self-rated health: Results from Canada’s General Social Survey

Abstract In this study we analyze data from Statistics Canada’s General Social Survey, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey of Canada’s population, to assess the impact of three dimensions of social capital on self-rated health. We measure these dimensions, which consist of social networks and social support, civic participation and social participation, with a comprehensive set of 5 indicators. To avoid reverse causality due to the cross-sectional nature of the data, we employ an instrumental variable simultaneous equations bivariate probit regression model. Our findings indicate that all of the tested dimensions of social capital have a positive and significant impact on self-rated health. These findings suggest that social capital plays an important role in enhancing the health of Canada’s population. Endogeneity was detected in all of our estimations. Consequently, this study also has important methodological implications in that we demonstrate that relying solely on naive estimations leads to biased results.

Social capital and its role in poverty reduction: a Canadian-based analysis

Social capital is receiving attention from the scholarly community as a potential mechanism for reducing poverty and promoting economic well-being. In this study, data are analyzed from Canadas nationally representative General Social Survey in order to estimate the associations between two social capital dimensions; that is, trust and voting behavior, and economic well-being. The results suggest that both generalized and particularized forms of trust as well as voting in national and local elections are positively associated with economic well-being. The policy and programmatic implications emanating from the studys results are discussed and recommendations for future studies are also provided.

Determinants of participating in training: a Canadian-based analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to estimate and compare the across-time individual and contextual factors influencing the participation of Canadian residents in adult education and training during the 1990s and the early twenty-first century. This era is characterized by the social investment state (SIS), a policy paradigm adopted by various developed nations throughout the world, including Canada, during the latter part of the twentieth century. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed data obtained from the 1994, 1998, and 2003 versions of the Adult Education and Training Survey, which is administered by Statistics Canada. They employed binomial logit regression so as to predict the likelihood of the respondents participating in training. Findings Participants whose level of education was below the post-secondary level were less likely to participate in training, as were adult residents of households in which pre-school children also lived. These findings occurred across all three periods of data collection. Furthermore, urban residents exhibited an increasingly greater likelihood to participate in training across-time. Research limitations/implications Future studies should consider the funding source for training, be it from the public or private sector, and how this may affect participation. The impact that various types of training have on employment and earning patterns in developed nations should also be further assessed. Originality/value This study, with its use of the most recent available data to analyze across-time changes in the determinants of participating in training in Canada, has contributed to the knowledge base regarding the SIS in Canada and how it compares to its European counterparts.