Questions and Answers
What problem does Stone identify in the debate on whether one should receive welfare assistance or not?
The distinction between need and desire.
Why is need such a strong moral claim? How does defining need become a political contest?
Need is a strong moral claim because it elicits societal response and is agreed upon by all. It becomes a political contest because policymakers portray their program criteria as objective while citizens also portray their desires as objective and impossible to reject.
What's the most basic form of need?
What is necessary for physical survival.
What's the difference between instrumental needs and direct/intrinsic ones?
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What does it mean when Stone says some things enhance welfare by their instrumental value, rather than intrinsic value?
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What's the difference between material needs and symbolic needs?
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How does culture influence discussions of need?
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How does instrumental need shape policy discussions of education, health care, etc.?
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What's the difference between objective and subjective measures of well-being?
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What is the difference between absolute and relative need?
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Provide an example of a contrast between absolute and relative need in policy.
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Thinking about health insurance, why do people 'need' healthy teeth?
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What is the paradox of progress?
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What is moral hazard? Why is there a tradeoff between welfare and efficiency?
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What is the conservative rationale behind work requirements for public assistance?
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Does meeting basic needs affect people's motivation to work?
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Study Notes
Welfare Debate and Need
- The central issue in welfare debates is differentiating between need and desire.
- Need serves as a moral claim, prompting societal obligation and universally recognized validity.
- Political discussions often present criteria for need as objective, while citizens assert their desires are equally valid and hard to dismiss.
Forms of Need
- Basic Need: Essential for physical survival.
- Instrumental Needs: Function as means to other goals, such as promoting healthy growth.
- Intrinsic Needs: Valued for their immediate benefits, like happiness from enjoying a cake.
Instruments and Welfare
- Items can enhance welfare through instrumental value (e.g., dietary-specific pills) instead of intrinsic appeal.
- Material Needs: Necessary for biological survival.
- Symbolic Needs: Relate to social and cultural participation (e.g., communal meals).
Cultural Impact on Need
- Cultural definitions shape what it means to be human and deserving of dignity, influencing public perceptions of welfare.
- Different cultures recognize and fulfill public needs according to their unique values.
Instrumental Need and Policy
- In education, instrumental needs focus on creating a capable workforce and addressing inequality through universal access.
- Health care discussions are similarly influenced by the need for community wellness and productivity.
Well-being Measures
- Objective Measures: Based on quantifiable factors.
- Subjective Measures: Depend on individuals’ perception influenced by their social interactions.
Absolute vs. Relative Need
- Absolute Need: Defined by a fixed standard (e.g., U.S. disability insurance requiring income below $1,000/month).
- Relative Need: Concerned with one’s status compared to community resource distributions (e.g., Netherlands benchmarking against average community wages).
Health Insurance and Employment
- Poor dental health can limit job opportunities requiring good presentation, showcasing how health needs connect to employment.
Paradox of Progress
- Advances create higher expectations and new perceived needs previously unrecognized, like newer surgeries becoming essential due to their availability.
Moral Hazard and Efficiency
- The welfare-efficiency trade-off is influenced by the concept of moral hazard, suggesting individuals may exploit social support, leading to decreased diligence and productivity.
Conservative Perspectives on Welfare
- Conservatives advocate for work requirements in welfare programs as a means to discourage perceived immoral dependency and prolonged support.
Motivation and Basic Needs
- Research findings indicate that securing basic needs does not diminish work motivation.
- Evidence from initiatives like the NJ Negative Income Tax shows no decrease in labor supply, and countries with generous welfare have higher employment rates and better health outcomes.
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Description
Explore the critical perspectives presented by Stone in Chapter 4 regarding welfare assistance. This quiz delves into the moral implications of need versus desire and how these definitions influence political discourse on welfare policy.