Social dimensions of macroeconomic policy: report of the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations

Introduction The social agenda is long-term in nature, in the sense that poverty alleviation along with a better distribution of income, wealth and opportunities are long-term goals. A sound macroeconomic policy, on the other hand, has to do largely with the consistent management of short-term policy instruments pursuing a sustainable and predictable pace for aggregate economic variables and major prices (wages, inflation, interest rates and exchange rates). In spite of the different arena and rationale in which they play, there are strong links between the two. First and most obvious, macroeconomic adjustment and structural reform are more likely to be sustainable when they are equitable. Second, social intervention —i.e., policies, programmes and reforms aimed at improving social performance in the long run—, needs stable funding which is not always available in view of macroeconomic constraints. Third, macroeconomic instability —especially episodes of recession or hyperinflation— increases poverty and inequality, while restoring macroeconomic equilibrium does not restore previous social balances. Finally, there is no unique macroeconomic policy mix to tackle a given situation, and the policy options may not be neutral from a social standpoint. Monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies, together with structural reform, have major consequences for the social wellbeing of societies, not only in terms of protection against shocks and crises but also in terms of equity. Many, if not all, of the necessary social policies are of a domestic nature. This report thus concentrates on domestic strategies aimed at maximizing the linkages between consistent macroeconomic policies and social progress. Pursuing them, however, depends to a considerable extent on the international enabling environment in which the global financial system, the unsettled debt crisis and increasing ODA flows play a significant role. Countries operate in a world economy where market players everywhere immediately scrutinize domestic monetary, financial or fiscal policy decisions and the performance of exchange rate regimes of individual countries. Under these conditions, the room for manoeuvre of policymakers has become considerably constrained. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly complex to incorporate the social dimensions into such policy decisions, to the extent that external analysts consider that authorities are sacrificing sound macroeconomic policies. The main message of the report is that the expediency of short-term economic efficiency as embedded in much of the advice on macroeconomic stability needs to be tempered by long-term development objectives. The report starts with a short historical background which describes the ascendancy of macroeconomic policies over social development policies (chapter I). It continues with an evaluation of the relation between macroeconomic consistency and social effort (chapter II), and the importance of sustainable and stable growth for social progress (chapter III). The report then turns to the need for an equity-enhancing growth strategy (chapter IV) and an analysis of the priorities of social policies in an integrated approach to growth (chapter V). The final chapter adds some final institutional remarks.

Paradigmas diversos no campo da assistência social e seus estabelecimentos assistenciais típicos

In order to understand what is the situation of entities that serve children and adolescents today, as well as the institutional plot that comprises these institutions, we aimed to formulate a set of paradigmatic possibilities that would allow us to understand the configuration of the dialectical field of various pulses, in which these entities are located. We detected the subjects we associate with counterparts paradigms of Charity, of Human Promotion, of Philanthropy, of assistentialist government patronage, of Social Work as a State Policy, and finally, another set of events that we propose to designate as the paradigm of Citizen Subjects we associate with the ethical perspective of People Education. These paradigmatic possibilities range from the simply various and contrasting ones, including the similar and competing ones, to the dialectically contradictory ones. Its spectrum oscillates between tutelage and citizenship. The characterization of these didactic paradigms can provide us a compass that is required in a highly complex social field, allowing us to understand the variety of ethical effects promoted by these paradigms in the social field.

Evolution of the link between selective anti-poverty policies and social sectors policies

Includes bibliography

ECLAC in its historical setting

Includes bibliography

Population, social equity and changing production patterns

Includes bibliography

Desenvolvimento regional e capital social: uma abordagem para a microrregião de Presidente Prudente - SP

Pós-graduação em Geografia - FCT

Análise de uma experiência de trabalho de formação de crianças: a pobreza e a exclusão social em foco

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A criança e sua infância: combates no saber em educação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Políticas públicas educacionais no âmbito do sistema penitenciário: aplicações e implicações no processo de (re)inserção social do apenado

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A concepção de cultura em Bruner e Vigotski: implicações para a educação escolar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Os pobres e os termos de bem viver: novas formas de controle social no império do Brasil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estado e administração pública no pensamento social brasileiro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Limites e possibilidades de uma alternativa de educação: Análise do Projeto Barracão da Cáritas Diocesana de Marília

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

A motivação do aprendiz para a aprendizagem escolar: a perspectiva histórico-cultural

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Acompanhante terapêutico: caracterização da prática profissional na perspectiva da Análise do Comportamento

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)