Emerald | International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy | Table of Contents

Basic Equality as a Post-Revolutionary Requisite: The Circumstances that are to be Taken into Consideration in the Wake of the Arab Spring

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Jasper Doomen) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The Arab Spring poses challenges to governments of the countries involved; I present a way to respond to them. To this end, the notion of ‘basic equality’ is proffered as a decisive element to be realized in a democratic form of government, democracy itself being necessary if one seeks to evade a return to the former forms of government.Design/methodology/approach - No single answer suffices to realize stable while generally acceptable forms of government; basic equality is shown to be a necessary starting point in each case, to be supplemented by specific policies. The practical implications of the article’s analysis are evidenced in the limitations governments must recognize and warrant: through legislation, basic equality is to be realized.Findings - People’s (formal) equality must be acknowledged. It may be difficult to reconcile this demand with, for example, religious convictions, but it is not necessary to compromise what one believes. One need only act in accordance with the dictates of formal equality, which is the corollary of basic equality. For example, an employer only has to treat his employees equally, and may, accordingly, not distinguish between race, gender or religion, but he is not required to believe that people are, in some fundamental sense, equal.Originality/value - Equal treatment has often been proposed as a ‘moral’ directive. I present a realistic alternative to this approach while realizing a state of affairs in which people are treated equally. Since this alternative is based on their self-interest, this will lead to both a convincing theory and a viable practice.

The Alignment of the Policy Objectives of Youth inclusion and Population Regulation in Post Arab-Spring Egypt: A Discussion Paper

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Ghada Barsoum) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - This paper argues for the benefit of aligning the two policy objectives of youth inclusion and population regulation in Egypt. This alignment is mainly informed by the literature that identifies structural development issues as central to population regulation. These development issues relate to greater access to education, particularly to female youth, access to the labor market, access to family planning services and delayed age at marriage. These development issues are also at the heart of a youth-focused policy agenda that would foster their successful transition to adulthood. Design/methodology/approach - The paper provides stylized data on the situation of youth in Egypt along the youth- and population-related parameters identified in the paper and surveys population policies in Egypt in view of recent changes related to the country’s democratic transition.Findings - There is great benefit in aligning the objectives of population regulation and youth integration policies in Post January 25th Egypt. This alignment will revive the population-focused policy agenda, which is ostensibly absent from the policy discourse, using an already vibrant discourse seeking to include youth as part of Egypt’s democratic transition. Originality/value - The paper contributes to the debate on youth and population issues in Egypt at a highly volatile political scene and draws on the experience of the Post revolution Iran in terms of population policies.

Modern Contraceptive Behaviour of Indian Women: Is Spousal Violence A Constraint?

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The main goal of the paper is to study the effect of intimate partner violence on wives’ participation in adopting modern contraceptive as a method family planning in India.Design/methodology/approach - Our analysis uses data from the NFHS-III (2005-06) based on a nationally representative sample of 109,041 households, and 124,385 women (15-49 years). The sample covers 99 percent of India’s population living in all 29 states. Logit model has been used to analyse data.Findings - The study reveals that spousal violence negatively affects wives’ participation in adoption of modern contraceptive, but that their knowledge of contraceptive, religion, and level of women empowerment should be taken into account as well. Women with higher knowledge about contraceptive have been found to use more modern contraceptive. Muslim women has relatively lower modern contraceptive prevalence rate and they have an inclination for traditional methods. Similarly, modern contraceptive prevalence is lower among women who enjoy relatively higher empowerment. In fact, it has been found from the study that women empowerment has a high positive correlation with traditional contraceptive prevalence rate.Originality/value - This paper is the first attempt at examining the association between spousal violence and contraceptive behaviour in India on national basis covering every corner of the country. The findings of the study clearly stress the importance of spousal violence prevention measures as supplemental to family planning measures. However, it will be erroneous to assume that mere passing of bills in the parliament and making laws will solve the problem which is deeply rooted in the society.

Consanguineous marriages and their effects on pregnancy outcomes in India

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between the marriage among blood relatives and resulting adverse pregnancy outcomes. Design/methodology/approach - This study uses data from India Human Development Survey (IHDS, 2005). The methods of analyses include bivariate, trivariate estimates and Cox proportional hazard regression model.Findings - The results reveal that the occurrence of consanguineous marriages is more predominant in southern India and among socioeconomically disadvantageous groups. Moreover, women in consanguineous unions are more likely to have adverse pregnancy outcomes including stillbirths (RR=1.59, p-value < 0.01), abortions (RR = 3.03, p-value < 0.01), miscarriages (RR=1.94, p-value < 0.01) and spontaneous miscarriages (RR=1.70, p-value < 0.01). Consanguineous marriages continue to be a critical predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes in India. Practical implications - In order to avoid loss of pregnancy and related reproductive health problems in India, it is imperative to create awareness regarding the adverse effects of consanguineous marriages, focusing on the regions with high prevalence.Originality/value - This unique study, comprehensively examines the occurrence of consanguineous marriages and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes by using advanced statistical analyses and nationally representative data.

Does Activation Increase Lone Mothers’ Employment Chances? Effects of Training and Workfare for Lone Mothers Receiving Means-Tested Benefits in Germany

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Cordula Zabel) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to study employment effects of workfare and training programs for lone mothers receiving means-tested benefits in Germany. Design/methodology/approach - The empirical analyses are based on a large-scale administrative data set covering the entire population of unemployed means-tested benefit recipients. A timing-of-events approach is used to control for possible selectivity in program entries.Findings - Findings are that lone mothers particularly profit from participating in vocational training programs. It seems they can benefit from updating their job skills after having interrupted their employment for childcare. By contrast, workfare does not seem to be beneficial for those with young children. Workfare is especially intended to enhance participants’ motivation to increase their job search efforts. The main reason lone mothers of young children have not been employed is however likely to be lack of childcare, rather than lack of motivation.Practical implications - Lone mothers of young children are perhaps not an adequate focus group for workfare, and should be assigned there less often, and instead more frequently to skill training programs.Originality/value - As of yet, very little research has investigated effects of training and workfare programs specifically for lone mothers in Germany. The findings from the present study can contribute to understanding whether lone mothers, who are strongly targeted by these programs despite facing employment obstacles on account of low levels of childcare provision, can actually profit from program participations.

STATISTICS AS A TECHNOLOGY OF GOVERNANCE: THE NORWEGIAN NEED FOR NUMBERS & NUMBERS FOR NEED

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Gunhild Tøndel, Kjartan Sarheim Anthun) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - This study explores the development in Norway from an awareness of the need for numbers to govern in the 70s to a statistical information system launched in 2006, called IPLOS, to respond to this need. The article discuss how this system was developed, what the Norwegian authorities attempted to achieve with the development, which goals they desired and how the statistics was intended to contribute to reach them. Design/methodology/approach - This study has a multisite approach inspired by situational analysis, and draws on "governing by numbers" among other theoretical debates. It is based on original data (qualitative interviews) and secondary sources (policy and statistics development documents). The sources represent both top down and bottom up perspectives; authorities, municipalities, expertise involved in the development and disability activists.Findings - The statistics development expresses three challenges in Norwegian health and care service policy: planning and governance, the growing complexity of the welfare state and changing welfare ideologies. Research limitations/implications - The study is limited to a Norwegian context and does not provide generalized conclusions about the sociohistorical context for developing statistics as technologies for governance purposes.Originality/value - Statistics and numbers for governance purposes are most often talked about as ready-made facts. This study explores a quantifying tool and its numbers in the making, with a methodologically approach that extends the governing by numbers tradition.

Measuring the social capital of professions: a study of dentists in Finland

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Jaakko Koivumäki) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - This article introduces a two-dimensional instrument for the measurement of the social capital of professions. On a general level, the social capital of a profession is defined as a source of power that allows a profession to further its goals and maintain its professional identity.Design/methodology/approach - The measure is developed and tested by using data collected among Finnish dentists (N=1,302) in April 2012. The methods employed include confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), mean comparisons (ANOVA and t-test) and OLS regression. Data analysis is guided by theories of social capital, especially the Putnamian tradition, and the literature on modern professions.Findings - The first dimension of social capital is social cohesion, which consists of solidarity, trust, identification and commitment to professional ethical principles. The second dimension of social capital is network density, which includes both formal and informal professional networks. Social cohesion and network density are positively correlated. By conceptualizing social capital as an individual-level attribute, this research shows that the employment of dentists across the public and private sectors increases the social capital of the profession.Originality/value - Until now no tools have been available for the measurement of the social capital of professions. The article also sheds new light on the nature of modern professions, their associations and sources of power in contemporary societies.

Tokunbo ICT: Symbolic-Rationality of Second-Hand ICT Utilization in Nigeria

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Ayokunle Olumuyiwa Omobowale) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - Information and Communication Technology (ICT) stands out as a major indicator and driver of the modern age. It catalytically advances globalization processes across professions, disciplines and agencies across international boundaries. In spite of the widespread utilization of the ICT, Nigeria in particular and Africa in general lags behind in the ICT revolution. Striving to modernise and develop, though, Nigeria is rather dependent on the developed world for ICT access and utilization. Nigeria accesses ICT indeed, a great volume of the access rather comes through the second-hand market. The study integrates theoretical orientations of symbolism and rationalism to empirically explain second-hand ICT utilization in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected through 30 indepth interviews (IDIs) and 6 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) among sellers and consumers of imported second-hand ICT at Abeokuta, Ibadan and Lagos cities in Nigeria. The data was collected between July and November 2010. The research is an extract from a larger study on "the Dynamics of the Tokunbo Phenomenon and Second-hand Economy in South-Western Nigeria".Findings - The paper concludes that as much as imported second-hand ICT satisfies consumer modernity and development needs, it swells up Nigeria’s e-waste. The bulk of the used ICT exported into Nigeria are non-usable scrap, while those that are functional or usable are at the tail end of their life cycles. By symbolically rationalizing imported second-hand ICT utilization, the Nigerian population simply pays for the evacuation of e-waste from producing countries of the developed world, to Nigeria. Nigeria is yet to develop a wholesome policy to address second-hand ICT import and grapple with e-waste challenge. The economic and health costs of imported e-waste are on Nigeria and Nigerians.Originality/value - The primary focus of the paper is on second-hand ICT utilization in Nigeria. The paper empirically discusses the utilization of second-hand ICT from the perspective of symbolic-rationality of modernity and development practice.