SOCIAL WELFARE MODELS

SINDHU PRIYA.P12MSW033

MODELS OF SOCIAL WELFARE

THERE ARE FOUR PRINCIPAL APPROACHES OR MODELS OF PROVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE

OBTAINABLE IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD. THEY ARE:

1. THE FAMILIAL MODEL2. THE RESIDUAL MODEL3. THE MIXED ECONOMY MODEL4. THE MODEL OF STATE

CONTROL

THE FAMILIAL MODEL

•FAMILY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SOCIAL WELFARE PROVISION.•THE BEST EXAMPLE OF AN ADVANCED SOCIETY IN WHICH A VERY HIGH VALUE IS STILL PLACED ON THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY IS FRANCE WHICH THOUGH LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES,HAS PUBLIC HEALTH,WELFARE,PENSION AND SOCIAL INSURANCE MECHANISM,BUT THERE FAMILY STRUCTURE IS STILL RELATIVELY STRONG,AND MANY SOCIAL NEEDS THAT ARE ELSEWHERE MET BY GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES ARE STILL MET IN BY THE FAMILY.•THIS IS POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE A RELATIVELY LARGE PROPORTION OF FRENCH UNITS WHETHER IN FARMING,COMMERCE,OR INDUSTRY,ARE SMALL FAMILY OPERATED UNITS.

THE RESIDUAL MODEL•THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THIS MODEL IS THE UNITED STATES.•THE PREDOMINANT VIEW HAS BEEN THAT THE PUBLIC PROVISION FOR OLD AGE,UNEMPLOYMENT AND ILLENESS SHOULD BE CONFINED TO A RESIDUE OF THE POOR AND THE NEEDY,AND THAT FOR THE BULK OF THE POPULATION WELFARE SERVICES CAN BEST BE SECURED THROUGH THE PRIVATE MARKET IN PARTICULAR THROUGH INSURANCE.•THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST CHARACTERSTICS AMERICAN SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES ARE THE STATE PUBLIC WELFARE SYSTEMS,WHICH PROVIDE A GREAT MANY KINDS OF BENEFIT TO THE POOR.

THE MIXED ECONOMY MODEL

•IN WEST GERMANY,BY FAR,THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM IS THE CONTRIBUTORY INSURANCE PLAN.•THE GERMAN SOCIAL INSURANCE SYSTEM HAS PROVIDED A VERY SUCCESSFUL FORUM FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT,SOCIAL ADMINISTRATION,BANKS,INSURANCE FIRMS AND INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRENEURS.•IN BRITAIN,ON THE OTHER HAND,RESIDUEL PAYMENTS UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT SYSTEM ARE PAID AT THE SAME RATE AS UNDER INSURANCE.•THEY ARE FINANCED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND ARE,IN THEORY,AVAILABLE AS A SATUTORY RIGHT.•BENEFITS HAVE ALWAYS LAGGED BEHIND SUBISTENCE LEVEL.

THE MODEL OF STATE CONTROL

•THE ERSTWHILE SOVIET UNION IS THE MOST CONSPICUOUS MODEL OF THE STATE CONTROL.•PRIVATE WELFARE HAS NOT BEEN ENTIRELY ABOLISHED AND THE INSURANCE SYSTEM IS STRONGLY MARKED BY CERTAIN FEATURES THAT ARE OFTEN THOUGHT OF US PECULIARLY,”CAPITALIST”.•OT THESE,BY FAR,THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE SUCCESS OF THE SOVIET UNION IN VIRTUALLY ABOLISING UNEMPLOYMENT.•OTHER INTERESTING FEATURES OF THE SOVIET SYSTEM ARE THE ABSORPTION OF THE DISABLED,THE PROVISION OF EXTENDED MATERNITY LEAVE AND MAINTANANCE PAYMENTS FOR MOTHER WITH BABIES,AND THE WIDESPREAD PROVISION OF NURSERIES AND DAY CARE CENTRES,ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS.

CONCLUSION

THE QUANTUM AND QUALITY OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES CANNOT BE UNIFORM IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES DUE TO THE VARIATIONS IN THEIR POPULATION,STAGE OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT,ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES,FORMS OF GOVERNMENT AND THEIR POLICIES.