Introduction: Why Focus on Social Policy?

Abstract

Since the late 1970s, with the advent of conservative policies in OECD countries, and of structural adjustment in the South, the state has been under pressure. Social policies have been particularly under stress, with an emphasis on reducing budget deficits and increased targeting of benefits provided by the state. With the critique of structural adjustment, and global pressure towards debt relief, poverty reduction has become core to much of the international development debate. Since 2000 strong commitments to increased aid financing have been articulated, and the trend in aid flows is indeed fairly rapidly upwards. But global inequalities continue to rise, and there are major questions regarding the success of development efforts.