Suchergebnisse

Based on innovative, mixed-methods research, this article examines the entry of on-demand platform models into the domestic work sector in South Africa. This sector has long been characterised by high levels of informality, precarity, and exploitation, though recent regulatory advances have provided labour and social protections to some domestic workers. We locate the rise of the on-demand economy within the longer-term trajectory of domestic work in South Africa, identifying the 'traditional' sector as a key site of undervalued labour. On-demand domestic work platforms create much-needed economic opportunities in a context of pervasive un(der)-employment, opportunities that come with some incremental improvements over traditional working arrangements. Yet we contend that platform models maintain the patterns of everyday abuse found elsewhere in the domestic work sector. These models are premised on an ability to navigate regulatory contexts to provide clients with readily available, flexible labour without longer-term commitment, therefore sidestepping employer obligations to provide labour rights and protections. As a result, on-demand companies reinforce the undervalued and largely unprotected labour of marginalised women domestic workers.

Chile is an interesting country in which to study the relationship between poverty and subjective wellbeing, having experienced a remarkable fall in poverty over the past two decades. This paper explores how poverty status and transitions in and out of poverty contributed to life satisfaction in the late 2000s. Using new data for 2006 and 2009, we find that poor people were more dissatisfied with life than the non-poor and that income gains did not appreciably affect the satisfaction of the poor while they remained below the poverty line. People who were not poor in either period exhibited higher satisfaction than those who were poor in both periods, while those who escaped poverty between 2006 and 2009 exhibited higher satisfaction than those who remained poor. In addition, people who fell into poverty in 2009 were no more or no less satisfied with their lives than those who were poor in both periods. The evidence suggests poor people may not have adapted to their circumstances, in contrast to much literature exploring income dynamics and life satisfaction, and also that people–s recent experiences appear to affect their perceptions more than more distant ones.

Human Development has been advocated as the prime development goal since 1990, when the publication of the first UNDP Human Development Report proposed that development should improve the lives people lead in multiple dimensions instead of primarily pursuing economic growth. This approach forms the foundation of 'Advancing Human Development: Theory and Practice'. It traces the evolution of approaches to development, showing how the Human Development approach emerged as a consequence of defects in earlier strategies. 'Advancing Human Development argues that Human Development' is superior to measures of societal happiness. It investigates the determinants of success and failure in Human Development across countries over the past forty years, taking a multidimensional approach to point to the importance of social institutions and social capabilities as essential aspects of change. It analyses political conditions underlying the performance of Human Development, and surveys global progress in multiple dimensions such as life expectancy, infant mortality, and education and outcomes, whilst reflecting on dimensions which have worsened over time, such as rising inequality and declining environmental conditions. These deteriorating conditions inform 'Advancing Human Development' its account of the challenges to the Human Development approach, covering the insufficient attention paid to macroeconomic conditions and the economic structure needed for sustained success

Child poverty remains staggeringly high. One in five children live on less than $1.90 a day and children are more than twice as likely to be living in extreme income poverty compared with adults. Despite clear evidence of the effectiveness of well-designed social protection in tackling child poverty, children are one of the population groups at highest risk of exclusion from social protection. This report and briefing note, prepared in partnership with UNICEF, examine the role of universal child benefits (UCBs) in addressing this policy gap. They contribute to a growing debate on the role of UCBs in the pursuit of child poverty reduction and universal social protection. Drawing on theory and practice from around the world, the report: provides a picture of policy in practice, with a focus on cash transfers for children of a universal and unconditional nature; critically reviews the arguments and the evidence on child benefit design and implementation options and related trade-offs; provides a practical framework for assessing policy options. The report and briefing note aim to support policy-makers as they consider the options for introducing a child benefit, expanding an existing child benefit or establishing a UCB, taking into account: child rights; poverty and inequality reduction effectiveness; the dignity of children and their carers; political economy; cost and financing.

As they signed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all countries pledged to reach and deliver progress for those who are furthest behind first. This commitment to "leave no one behind" is at the heart of the SDGs: not only is it morally unacceptable to keep vast swathes of people structurally locked out of progress but delivering on it is a prerequisite for achieving Agenda 2030. People caught in crisis - those living in conflict, and those who are displaced within their own countries or across borders - often fall through the cracks of different authorities' responsibilities or are explicitly excluded by governments in their national and sectoral plans (IRC, 2018a). Without the concerted efforts of the international community to address the needs of people caught in crisis and to measure the impact of this support, we will not achieve the SDGs for all, and the gap between this marginalised group and the rest of the world will grow. We examine country level progress against the SDGs and make projections as to how much more effort will be needed to reach them by 2030. By identifying the gaps in SDG progress for fragile and conflict-affected states, we highlight the challenges and opportunities for meeting the SDGs for people caught in crisis and make recommendations for further action.