The fiscalization of social policy

Last November, I attended a conference on Women-Friendly Democracy, held in honour of my former professor and research adviser, Dr. Jill Vickers. Isabella Bakker, of York University, gave a presentation on the fiscalization of social policy that seems even more important this year than last, with the looming economic crisis.

Bakker highlighted how cuts to social programs have been made, alongside trends towards presenting goals as “gender neutral”, while the government simultaneously reaffirmed social goals. This was accomplished without public protest because of the fiscalization of social policy. Priority is given even within social policy to market accountability and principles of macroeconomics, while actual social goals, such as poverty reduction and gender equality, are viewed as secondary.

Yet all policies – including economic policies – are social policies, as policy always has consequences for social outcomes. Bakker gave the example of family-oriented tax cuts, which do not necessarily benefit the whole family because they depend on the primary earner to distribute the benefits among the family.

Bakker also pointed to the increased “residualization” of social policy, or the tendency to view social programs as temporary, minimal and based on evidence of acceptable need, rather than as protection of citizens based on equality.

We need to reintroduce concepts of social accountability, Bakker argued. The government is not only responsible for how it accounts for money, but what is done with the money, and whether or not social goals are achieved. Accountability also cannot be blind to social groups, like women, or policy will continue to have negative impacts that we cannot understand.

Bakker based her presentation on research conducted with Janine Brodie of the University of Alberta on the last decade of social policy and how it impacted women. The research was undertaken on behalf of Status of Women Canada. Their research began before the 2006 cuts to Status of Women Canada, but their final report had to be published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, since Status of Women could no longer afford to publish it. An earlier version of the report is available from Status of Women.

Making sure that our social policy is not usurped entirely by fiscal goals and macroeconomic principles will be very important now, given fear of a large-scale economic crisis. As citizens, we also need to demand social accountability from our governments.