The Quest for Universal Social Policy in the South: Actors, Ideas and Architectures

Description

Universal social policies have the power to reduce inequality and create more cohesive societies. How can countries in the South deliver universalism? This book answers this question through a comparative analysis of Costa Rica, Mauritius, South Korea, and Uruguay, and a detailed historical account of Costa Rica's successful trajectory. Against the backdrop of democracy and progressive parties, the authors place at center stage the policy architectures defined as the combination of instruments that dictate the benefits available to people. The volume also explores the role of state actors in building pro-universal architectures. This book will interest advanced students and scholars of human development and public and social policies, as well as policymakers eager to promote universal policies across the South.

Juliana Martinez Franzoni is Associate Professor at the University of Costa Rica (Institute for Social Research), and is editor of ZED/CROP's series on global poverty. Her recent publications include Good Jobs and Social Services (2012) and Domesticar la Incertidumbre en America Latina (2008). She has published in many journals, including Development and Change, Global Social Policy, and Social Politics. Diego Sanchez-Ancochea is upcoming Director of the Latin American Centre, University of Oxford, as well as Associate Professor in the Political Economy of Latin America and a Fellow of St Antony's College. His recent publications include Good Jobs and Social Services (2013), Handbook of Central American Governance (2013), The Political Economy of the Budget in the Americas (2009) and The Political Economy of Hemispheric Integration in the Americas (2009).