Whose Values Shape Social Policy?

Whose values shape social policy? Do community
interests always lose to economic rationalists in
the struggle between costs and social goals?
Sociologists such as Michael Pusey argue that
economic
rationalism displaces social values. However does
policy implementation theory draw different
conclusions about the affect of economic
rationalism?
This book uses participant values and
dynamic policy implementation concepts to test the
impact of values of economic rationality in the
Australian coordinated care policy (1994-2001). The
policy was to coordinate care, using a funds pool,
case
managers and care plans for people with chronic care
needs. The results show that the policy changed away
from values of economic rationality after the
central government agencies handed responsibility to
health agencies. However it was the
organisational values of health providers that
dominated implementation rather than
social values. The book adds to social policy
implementation theory about the impact of economic
rationalism. It shows that knowing which
organisations are responsible for policy at each
policy stage reveals whose values shape social
policy.

Autorentext
Karen R. Fisher is a researcher at the Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Her research interests include the organisation of social services in Australia and China, including disability and mental health services and community care; participatory evaluation methodology; and social policy process.

Klappentext
Whose values shape social policy? Do community interests always lose to economic rationalists in the struggle between costs and social goals? Sociologists such as Michael Pusey argue that economic rationalism displaces social values. However does policy implementation theory draw different conclusions about the affect of economic rationalism? This book uses participant values and dynamic policy implementation concepts to test the impact of values of economic rationality in the Australian coordinated care policy (1994-2001). The policy was to coordinate care, using a funds pool, case managers and care plans for people with chronic care needs. The results show that the policy changed away from values of economic rationality after the central government agencies handed responsibility to health agencies. However it was the organisational values of health providers that dominated implementation rather than social values. The book adds to social policy implementation theory about the impact of economic rationalism. It shows that knowing which organisations are responsible for policy at each policy stage reveals whose values shape social policy.