300436 Social Policy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (S) (WiSe 2023/2024)

The seminar is divided into four parts.

1) Conceptual and Historical Section:

The seminar begins with the definition of social policy. After that, we look closely at society in terms of social stratification, class, and inequality. Then we work on major types of social protection schemes such as social assistance, social insurance, statutory employer mandates and so on. Afterwards we will discuss the role of international organizations in shaping social policies in low- and middle-income countries. In the final session, our main attention will be on the historical review of social policy in developing countries.

2) Empirical Section:

In the second part of the seminar, we will focus on the implementation of some policies in low- and middle-income countries, their success and failure and their unintended consequences.

3) Guest lecturer:

In one session, a professor of social policy from a middle-income country will join us to discuss a poverty alleviation program in his country. This session is a great opportunity for us to discuss in person a social policy scheme.

4) Conclusion:

In the concluding part, we discuss how we can analysis social policy in low- and middle-income countries.

The course is designed as an introductory seminar.