Syllabus

Title
2120 Course I: Introduction to Health and Social Policy
Instructors
Univ.Prof. Dr. Ulrike Schneider
Contact details
ulrike.schneider@wu.ac.at
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/16/21 to 09/19/21
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Bachelor Programs
Course I - Health and Social Policy
Course I - Health and Social Policy
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Monday 10/04/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM D3.0.233
Monday 10/11/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM D3.0.233
Monday 10/18/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM D3.0.233
Monday 10/25/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM D3.0.233
Monday 11/08/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM D3.0.233
Monday 11/15/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM D3.0.225
Monday 11/22/21 02:00 PM - 04:30 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 11/29/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 12/06/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 12/13/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 12/20/21 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit

On this page:

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Contents

The course will present an introduction to social policy. It explains key economic concepts that are relevant to designing social security systems and policy programmes. It will provide an overview over important social policies including poverty reduction, pensions, health and long-term care and unemployment insurance. Each social policy will be illustrated by concrete examples in Austria and internationally, and analyzed from an interdisciplinary perspective. Student group projects will deal with selected social policy issues in comparative perspective.

Topics covered in this course:

  • social policy, social welfare and the welfare state: objectives, principles, actors, policies
  • social risk and (social) insurance
  • equity: concepts, issues and policies
  • comparative welfare state analysis
  • Evaluation of social programmes 
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Learning outcomes

The course provides a framework for understanding, reviewing and critical analysis of alternative approaches to the study and the practice of social policy. After attending this course, students will be able to:

  • outline and apply the conceptual foundations of social policy
  • understand fundamental design principles of social security systems,
  • identify alternative welfare state models,
  • characterise social policies in selected countries,
  • analyse and discuss social policy approaches against the background of major economic and social policy objectives,
  • understand and discuss academic social policy papers. 

In addition, students will:

  • gain practice and improve their skills in writing, presenting and discussing their ideas.
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Attendance requirements

This being a ‘course with continuous assessment (PI)’, the University requires students to attend at least 80% of the time of the scheduled course units for completing the course successfully. Ideally you attend all units fully. If you are unable to fully attend a unit, please let me know in advance. In case online units are scheduled, the same attendance requirements apply.

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Teaching/learning method(s)

The course will be taught in person but it could revert to hybrid or online teaching depending on how government policies to fight the current pandemic unfold (and WU's reponse to any changes). There will be (online) lectures, in-class assigments and interactive formats. Lectures will be complemented by home assignments to be prepared and delivered partly individually and partly in small teams (group presentations). Last not least, students will work on an individual seminar papers.

  • (online) lectures
  • team-based learning
  • group presentations
  • seminar papers  (briefing paper & critical review paper) 
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Assessment

Assessment (relative weights in the final grade): 

  • active participation during online units: 10%
    (engaging in Q&A, completing and presenting in-class assigments, present social policy graph/newsbit/"snippet" of the week)
  • written test (single-choice test): 20%
  • visual essay (prepared by groups of 3 students) and accompanying briefing paper: 35%
  • response paper ("reaction paper") related to a social policy reading (individual): 35%

Grade Key (point ranges)

  • 1: Excellent (90-100 points)
  • 2: Good (80-89 points)
  • 3: Satisfactory (65-79 points)
  • 4: Sufficient (50-64 points)
  • 5: Fail (0-49 points)
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Readings
1 Author: Barr, Nicholas
Title:

The Economics of the Welfare State

  • Ch.1 (pp.3-20)
  • Ch.3 (pp.49-60 & 73-76)
  • Ch.4 (pp.86-104)
  • Ch.5 (pp.113-128)
  • Ch.8 (pp.195-214); [pp.215-224]

Publisher: Oxford University Press
Edition: 6th edition
Remarks: This book is not not availabe in electronic format. The library holds >40 copies of this textbook.
Year: 2020
Content relevant for class examination: Yes
Recommendation: Essential reading for all students
2 Author: Pestieau, Pierre; Lefebvre, Mathieu
Title:

The Welfare State in Europe. Economic and Social Perspectives.

  • Ch.1 (pp.1-10)
  • Ch.2 (pp.11-25)
  • Ch.5 (pp.47-60)
  • Ch.10 (pp.123-136)
  • Ch.13 (pp.157-173)

Publisher: Oxford University Press
Edition: 2nd edition
Remarks: WU library provides access to e-book
Year: 2018
Content relevant for class examination: Yes
Recommendation: Essential reading for all students
Type: Book
3 Author: Greve, Bent
Title:

Welfare and the welfare state. Central Issues Now and in the Future

  • Ch.2 (pp.14-30)
  • Ch.3 (pp.31-40)
  • Ch.7 (pp.106-129)
  • Ch.8 (pp.131-136)
  • Ch.9 (pp.151-169)
  • Ch.10 (pp.170-188)
  • Ch.12 (pp.203-211)
  • Ch.13 (pp.212-222)

Publisher: Routledge
Edition: 2nd edition
Remarks: WU library provides access to e-book
Year: 2020
Content relevant for class examination: Yes
Recommendation: Strongly recommended (but no absolute necessity for purchase)
Type: Book
4 Author: Garland, David
Title:

The Welfare State. A very short introduction.

Publisher: Oxford Univesrity Press
Edition: 1st edition
Year: 2016
Content relevant for class examination: No
Recommendation: Reference literature
Type: Book
5 Author: Greve, Bent
Title:

Welfare, Populism and Welfare Chauvinism.

  • Ch.2 Basic concepts. (pp.17-38)
  • Ch.3 Why Inequality matters. (pp.39-56)
  • Ch.4 Dualisation and the labour market (pp.57-75)

Publisher: Policy Press
Edition: 1st edition
Year: 2019
Content relevant for class examination: No
Content relevant for diploma examination: No
Recommendation: Reference literature
Type: Book
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Availability of lecturer(s)

After class or via Email  (ulrike.schneider@wu.ac.at). 

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Unit details
Unit Date Contents
1 04.10.2021

Welfare, the Welfare State and Social Policy: Concepts, history of the welfare state, the welfare state in numbers (Lecture 1)

Readings:

  • Greve 2020, Ch. 2 (pp.14-30) and Ch.3.3 (37-40); Barr 2020, Ch.1 (pp.3-20);
  • optional: Garland 2016, Ch. 1+2 (pp.1-25); Pestieau & Lefebvre 2018, Ch.1 (pp.1-10)
2 11.10.2021

Social policy for reasons of efficiency: Overview  (Lecture 2)

Reading: Barr 2020, Ch. 3.3.2 - 3.3.5 (pp.49-60)
3 18.10.2021

Provision of (Social) Insurance and Social Services (Lecture 3)

Reading: Barr 2020, Ch.4 (pp. 86-104)
4 25.10.2021

Social Policy for Reasons of Equity: Overview (Lecture 4, Part 1)

Readings:

  • Greve 2019, Ch.3 (Why inequality matters), (pp.39-55)
  • Barr 2020, Ch.5.3.1  & 5.3.2  (pp.120-123) or
  • Greve 2020, Ch.4.5, (pp.74-76)
5 08.11.2021

Social Policy for Reasons of Equity: Overview (Lecture 4, Part 2)

Readings:

  • Greve 2019, Ch.3 (Why inequality matters), (pp.39-55)
  • Barr 2020, Ch.5.3.1  & 5.3.2  (pp.120-123) or
  • Greve 2020, Ch.4.5, (pp.74-76)

 
    6 15.11.2021

    Measuring poverty and inequality (Lecture 4, Part 3)

    Readings:

    • Barr 2020, Ch. 5.2 (pp.113-119), 5.3.3 (pp. 123-124), 5.4.1 (pp. 125-128)
    • [Pestieu & Lefebvre 2018, Ch.2 (pp.11-25)]

     

    Welfare State Design and Comparison (Lecture 5)

    Readings:

    • Greve 2020, Ch.3 (here: pp.31-37), & Ch.8.2 (pp.131-136)
    • Pestieau & Lefebvre 2018, Ch.5 (pp.47-60)
    • Barr 2020, Ch. 3.6 (pp.73-76)
    7 22.11.2021

    TEST  (based on obligatory readings for units 1-6)

     

    Poverty Policy (Lecture 6)

    Readings:

    • Barr 2020: Ch.8.1-8.4.5 (pp.195-214)
    • optional: Barr 2020, Ch.8.4.6+8.4.7 (pp.215-224)
    8 29.11.2021

    Pension Policy (Lecture 7)

    Readings:

    • Greve 2020, Ch.13 (pp.212-222)
    • Pestieau & Lefebvre 2018, Ch.10 (pp.123-136)
    9 06.12.2021

    (Health-) and LTC Policy (Lecture 8)

    Reading: Greve 2020: Ch.12 (pp.203-211)
    10 13.12.2021

    Labour Market Policy (Lecture 9)

    Readings:

    • Greve 2020, Ch.7 (pp. 106-129)
    • Pestieau & Lefebvre 2018, Ch.13, (pp. 157-173)
    • [Greve 2019, Ch.4 Dualisation of the labour market (pp.57-75)]
    11 20.12.2021

    Discrimination & Non-Discrimination Policy (Lecture 10)

    Reading: Greve 2020, Ch.10 (pp.170-188)
    Last edited: 2022-02-21



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