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Overlapping Identities: Caste and Gender

Ashwani Deshpande

in The Grammar of Caste: Economic Discrimination in Contemporary India

The previous chapters suggest that identity matters in the real world, even in strongly market-oriented situations. What happens when there are overlapping identities? There are several contexts ... More

The previous chapters suggest that identity matters in the real world, even in strongly market-oriented situations. What happens when there are overlapping identities? There are several contexts where identity has multiple contours and every individual simultaneously has multiple identities: race, religion, nationality, gender, and so forth. This chapter focuses on two important definitions of identity in the Indian context: caste and gender. It reports the evidence on the changing nature of that overlap. In addition to economic indicators, it also discusses the evidence on women's autonomy and decision-making ability within the household and on domestic violence, based on two rounds of a large survey. Recent evidence suggests that women from castes lowest in the hierarchy are trapped in a cesspool of poverty, deprivation, and reduced autonomy.Less

Characterizing the Experiences of High-Cost Users in Medicare

Thomas Macurdy and Jeff Geppert (eds)

in Analyses in the Economics of Aging

This chapter explores patterns of expenses for high-cost users of Medicare. It aims to develop a transparent approach for identifying these beneficiaries and determining the concentration of their ... More

This chapter explores patterns of expenses for high-cost users of Medicare. It aims to develop a transparent approach for identifying these beneficiaries and determining the concentration of their health care utilization. The analysis reveals that that 20–30 percent of the total growth in Medicare program payments from 1989 to 1999 came from an increase in the participation rate while 50–60 percent was from an increase in average program payments per service recipient.Less

Special Education Participation and the Simultaneous Rise of Segregation and Inclusion

in Comparing Special Education: Origins to Contemporary Paradoxes

This chapter presents an overview of special education participation rates in Europe and the United States and addresses the simultaneous rise and coexistence of segregation and inclusive education. ... More

This chapter presents an overview of special education participation rates in Europe and the United States and addresses the simultaneous rise and coexistence of segregation and inclusive education. It examines the types of students that participate in special education systems and their allocation to schooling structures. The chapter then analyzes the association between special and inclusive education and forms of education governance.Less

Other Influences on Growth

Andrew Smithers

in Productivity and the Bonus Culture

Productivity and demography have been the major determinants of growth and this will continue unless there are significant favourable changes in unemployment, hours worked per person and ... More

Productivity and demography have been the major determinants of growth and this will continue unless there are significant favourable changes in unemployment, hours worked per person and participation rates. These three variables are not, at least in combination, likely to change in a way which will help growth. Unemployment is very low by historic standards and unlikely to be able to fall further without causing problems through the impact on inflation and inflationary expectations. Hours worked tend to rise as incomes per head rise and are thus unlikely to help. Participation rates should improve as those over 65 become more willing to work, but the improvement tends to move cyclically with unemployment where further falls are unlikely. The past help provided by the increase in female participation seems to have run its course. On balance little help to growth rates from these three variables in combination is likely.Less

Low Participation Rates

Dean Karlan and Jacob Appel

in Failing in the Field: What We Can Learn When Field Research Goes Wrong

This chapter focuses on low participation rates. Low participation rates squeeze the effective sample size for a test, making it more difficult, statistically, to identify a positive treatment ... More

This chapter focuses on low participation rates. Low participation rates squeeze the effective sample size for a test, making it more difficult, statistically, to identify a positive treatment effect. There are two moments in which low participation rates can materialize: during the intake process to a study or intervention, or after random assignment to treatment or control. Low participation during the intake process often occurs when marketing a program to the general public. Researchers working in the field with partner organizations often face inflexible constraints in trying to cope with low participation during intake. The second type of low participation—that which occurs after subjects have been randomly assigned to treatment or control—is a more daunting problem and is less likely solvable than low participation at the intake phase.Less

Activation and Reform in the United States: What Time Has Told

Theresa Anderson, Katharine Kairys, and Michael Wiseman

in Activation or Workfare? Governance and the Neo-Liberal Convergence

The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act promoted “work over welfare” and introduced work requirements for adult recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ... More

The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act promoted “work over welfare” and introduced work requirements for adult recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Since then, access to the safety net has contracted, inequities in Federal support have increased, real benefits have declined, and fiscal responsibility for social assistance has shifted from States to the Federal Government. Workfare now engages fewer than 7% of adult recipients. States’ strategy of shifting funding from income support to services reduced the capacity to respond to recession. The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) now provides the de facto national minimum income. Welfare reform has not occurred, but efforts at benefit restriction have continued, often cast as essential to reducing the Federal deficit. Unlike elsewhere, the crisis has not had a major impact on activation policy. If anything, the previous trend of moving minimum income recipients to SNAP has only intensified.Less

Poor Productivity and Damaging Demography

Andrew Smithers

in Productivity and the Bonus Culture

Over the past decade the slowdown in growth has reduced UK GDP by 20 per cent and US by 18 per cent. The contributions to this decline are calculated from changes in the population of working age, ... More

Over the past decade the slowdown in growth has reduced UK GDP by 20 per cent and US by 18 per cent. The contributions to this decline are calculated from changes in the population of working age, unemployment, participation rates, hours worked, and labour productivity. This shows that the deterioration in productivity caused 102 per cent of the slowdown in the growth of GDP for the UK and 65 per cent for the US, and the changes in demography caused 15 per cent of the slowdown in the UK and 37 per cent in the US. At least 100 per cent of this decline was therefore caused by damaging changes in demography and productivity. Changes in unemployment, participation rates, and hours worked offset some of the deterioration in demography in the UK but had almost no combined impact in the US.Less

The Global Institution of Special Education

in Comparing Special Education: Origins to Contemporary Paradoxes

In 1957, the first survey of special education conducted by the United Nations revealed its presence worldwide, yielding data on the total numbers of students in schools and classes by gender and ... More

In 1957, the first survey of special education conducted by the United Nations revealed its presence worldwide, yielding data on the total numbers of students in schools and classes by gender and category. This chapter presents cross-national analyses of the first international surveys carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the variation of special education classification and participation rates. It examines the structure of special education as a global institution, underscoring the raised awareness of disabilities and special educational needs, and special education provisions worldwide.Less

Women's Employment and Housework

Tanja van der Lippe

in Dividing the Domestic: Men, Women, and Household Work in Cross-National Perspective

This chapter focuses on female labor market participation and its implications in the division of household work. It begins with an overview of women's employment in 33 countries: their participation ... More

This chapter focuses on female labor market participation and its implications in the division of household work. It begins with an overview of women's employment in 33 countries: their participation rates, wage differences, and occupational segregation. It then explains the influence of women's employment on housework and examines whether the effect of women's employment on housework is different for countries that vary in welfare regime, child care polices, and gender culture. Multilevel analysis of data from the International Social Survey Program confirms that women spend less time on domestic work when they do more hours of paid work.Less

Conclusion

Dean Karlan and Jacob Appel

in Failing in the Field: What We Can Learn When Field Research Goes Wrong

This concluding chapter offers some guide on how to run a field study. First, researchers should think about where, when, and with whom they will run their experiment, and make sure these parameters ... More

This concluding chapter offers some guide on how to run a field study. First, researchers should think about where, when, and with whom they will run their experiment, and make sure these parameters fit the underlying idea or theory they intend to test. Second, every question in a survey should have a purpose. Researchers should be mindful that subtle features of a survey like response scales and order of questions can influence the results. Third, researchers should make sure that their implementing partner understands what it will take to conduct a research. Fourth, researchers should make an intentional decision about how, and how much, to incorporate technology into their survey. Fifth, researchers should not assume people will sign up to receive a program or service. They should find out directly whenever possible by piloting or otherwise gauging demand for their intervention.Less