from Chapter 11 in Raphael, forthcoming

 Among developed nations, left cabinet share is the best predictor of child
poverty rates. Rainwater and Smeeding found a striking relationship between
left cabinet share in national governments from 1946 to the 1990s and child
poverty rates (Rainwater & Smeeding, 2003). Among 14 nations between 1946
and 1990, the presence of left parties in national government was strongly
related to the probability that a child would not experience poverty.  The
correlation was a very strong .84. Sweden for example, had a 32% left
cabinet share with 42-1 odds of escaping child poverty. Belgium has a 13%
left cabinet share and a 18-1 odds of escaping child poverty. Canada has 0%
left cabinet share and 7% odds of escaping child poverty.
      What exactly is left cabinet share?  This term refers to having
members of a social democratic or left party involved in running government
by being in cabinet. Canada has never had a member of a left party in
federal cabinet. Canada has had however, left influence during minority
government situations. The welfare state institutions of medicare and
public pensions were established during periods of minority government rule
in which the NDP held the balance of power.
    Brady studied 16 western democracies for the period 1967 to 1997 and
looked at the impact of left political institutions on a nation’s poverty
rate (Brady, 2003). The findings showed that the power of left political
institutions have a powerful effect on poverty reduction.  It does so
through processes of high voter turnout and support of left parties that
support the welfare state. In addition, coordination of wage negotiation --
a result of strong union density -- combines with welfare state policy to
reduce poverty. While the welfare state is an essential determinant of
poverty, left political institutions are critical to understanding
comparative historical variation in both the strength of welfare states and
level of poverty among the population.
      During the federal minority government in 2005, the NDP held the
balance of power. During the Spring 2005 budget negotiations, the NDP
offered its support for the minority Liberal government in return for
significant added spending for childcare, social housing, and public
transportation. This resulted in the suspension of planned tax reductions
to the corporate sector and additional social spending. This is an example
of left influence upon poverty-related public policy.


Brady, D. (2003). The politics of poverty: Left political institutions, the
welfare state, and poverty. Social Forces, 82, 557-588.
Rainwater, L., & Smeeding, T. M. (2003). Poor Kids in a Rich Country:
America's Children in Comparative Perspective. New York: Russell Sage
Foundation.

 see also

Alesina, A., & Glaeser, E. L. (2004). Fighting Poverty in the US and
Europe: A World of Difference. Toronto: Oxford University Press.



Carlos Quinonez <[log in to unmask]>@YORKU.CA> on 15/03/2007
09:39:49 AM


Please respond to Social Determinants of Health <[log in to unmask]>
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Subject:    Re: [SDOH] NDP speech on social determinants of health



Wow, I didn't know that the strength of, and support for, social
democratic political parties in the single best predictor for these
states of affairs. Can you provide some quick references please?
That's surprising, but it makes sense in a way.

And a minority government where a social democratic party hold the
balance of power, hey, isn't that right now?!

So I guess there's no better time for change!

CQ



On 15-Mar-07, at 9:23 AM, Dennis Raphael wrote:

> The single best predictor of low poverty rates, a developed welfare
> state,
> and income and social security of citizens in developed nations is
> strength
> of, and support for, social democratic political parties. Period.
>
> While we may consider the forces that lead to such support, and the
> need
> for popular education and communiy mobilization, that is the absolute
> bottom line.
>
> The history of social advances in Canada, the UK, and yes, even the
> USA,
> provides ample evidence of this fact. Public pensions and medicare in
> Canada only came about during Minority governments where a social
> democratic party held the balance of power.
>
> Nuff said.
>
> On another note we have known Jack Layton for close to 25 years.
> He is the
> most dedicated, sincere, honest, and bright elected representative
> we have
> ever known.  And his personal attributes have been backed up by solid
> achievements. The Healthy City Movement was established in Toronto
> while he
> was chair of the Board of Health...
> --------------------------------------------------
> Layton helped spur the most innovative projects the city has seen in a
> generation:
>
> -Canada’s first municipally-sponsored AIDS strategy, which became a
> nationwide model.
> -Deep lakewater cooling of downtown office buildings, celebrated by
> environmentalist Robert Kennedy Jr.
> -The Healthy Cities model, adopted by the WHO and emulated in
> cities around
> the world.
> -The White Ribbon Campaign, which became a global movement of men
> speaking
> out against violence against women.
> -The first urban wind turbine in Canada, cooperatively owned – and
> generating enough clean electricity to light 250 homes.
> -The largest building renovation project in Canadian history, the
> Better
> Buildings Partnership, which paid for energy retrofits through future
> energy savings.
>
> dr
>
> dr
>
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