The Crisis of Welfare in East Asia

Contributions by Beng-huat Chua, Chyong-Fan Ko, Kyeung-Mi Oh, Tetsuso Ogawa, Connie Pui-yee Tang, Wan-I Lin, Wen-Chi Grace Chou, Raymond Man-hung Ngan, Ping-kwong Kam, Jacky Chau-kiu Cheung, Lai-ching Leung, Ho-lup Fung, Ya-peng Zhu Edited by James Lee, Kam-wah Chan

Publication date:

07 November 2007

Length of book:

286 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

Dimensions:

248x160mm
6x10"

ISBN-13: 9780739111789

The Crisis of Welfare in East Asia adopts a unique and critical perspective on contemporary social welfare policies in East Asia. This edited volume reflects on current welfare theories and challenges the dominant productivist ideology that overemphasizes the influence of work and family. James Lee and Kam-Wah Chan bring together authors from different social policy domains to provide an updated assessment of inadequacies and limitations in current social policies as well as the problematic theories guiding them. The authors demystify the so-called "East Asian Welfare Model" and reengage themselves in the identification of an appropriate welfare ideology, which includes a selective integration of social policy and economic development. The Crisis of Welfare in East Asia is a dynamic and enlightening read that will interest students of public policy and those interested in welfare capitalism.

Chapter 1 Deciphering Productivism and Developmentalism in East Asian Social Welfare
Chapter 2 Emerging Issues in Developmental Welfarism in Singapore
Chapter 3 Ageing Population in East Asia: Impacts on Social Protection and Social Policy Reforms in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan
Chapter 4 Change and Inertia in Housing Policy: Japanese Housing System during Economic Crisis
Chapter 5 Globalization, Regime Transformation, and Social Policy Development in Taiwan
Chapter 6 The Crisis of Social Security Financing in Hong Kong
Chapter 7 Age Discrimination in the Labour Market: Barriers to Active Ageing in Hong Kong
Chapter 8 Contradictions of Welfare and the Market: The Case of Hong Kong
Chapter 9 Managing the SARS Crisis in Hong Kong: Reviving the Economy or Reconstructing a Healthy Society
Chapter 10 Between Idealism and Realism: The Evolution of Full Employment Policy in China
Chapter 11 The Coming Housing Crisis of China
Chapter 12 Concluding Observations: Is there a Crisis of Welfare in East Asia?

In this thoughtful and interesting book, James Lee and Kam-wah Chan examine different facets of social policy in East Asia and ask whether recent developments are indicative of a crisis in welfare. The book addresses many complex issues and makes a significant contribution to the literature. It deserves to be widely read.