166-067 Australia's Welfare State: Comparisons

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma or Fourth Year Honours in Political Science or Sociology, or entry into Master of Public Policy.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject considers social policy choices in Australia in the context of historical development of the welfare state, market economies and globalisation. It draws on international comparative analysis of countries such as Germany, Sweden, UK and the USA, and considers comparative approaches to social and economic policy. The subject will explore questions such as What are the options open to nations in managing public policy under conditions of greater international market power? What is the role of nation states in a globalised economy? Students will tackle these issues in an applied policy area, analysing trends and patterns, changing structures, and the broader policy context in Australia. Students should complete the subject with an understanding of comparative trends and responses in other countries, and the ability to analyse recent reform agendas in terms of social effectiveness, economic efficiency and political feasibility.

Assessment

An essay of 2000 words and a project of 3000 words.

Prescribed Texts

• R E Goodin, B W Headey, R Muffels & H J Dirven, The Real Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. CUP, 1999.