Evaluation of local welfare policies: Institutionalization of the allocation of care responsibilities

Abstract

This research is done on behalf of a welfare agency. It is a quantitative research regarding the willingness and perceived ability of clients to become self-reliant. The government expects citizens to become more self-reliant as they can rely on family, friends and neighbours for support. This research will examine whether these ex pectations are realistic and will reveal the boundaries of policy changes regarding the civil society. In order to find answers regarding this question, institutional theories are used. The institutional theory regarding the three pillars of Scott (1995) emphasizes the regulative, normative and cognitive aspects of institutions. The regulative pillar emphasizes the regulatory aspects of institutions as institutions restrict and determine behaviour by means of rules, laws and sanctions. The normative pillar emphasizes normative rules that introduce a prescriptive, evaluative and obligatory dimension into social life. The cognitive pillar emphasizes taken for granted beliefs as rules that make up social reality. This macro theory of institutionalism is transformed into a micro theory applied to clients of welfare agencies. A structured questionnaire which included questions regarding normative solidarity, paternalistic cognitions and behavioural regulation was developed and conducted. Results indicated that social workers did not use coercive power in order to obligate clients to become self-reliant. The normative aspect of institutions had the most impact on the willingness of clients to become self-reliant, whereas, paternalistic cognitions did not have an impact on the willingness and perceived ability of clients to become self-reliant. As the majority of clients did mention to be motivated to be self-reliant, other reasons for clients to rely on social work has to be examined. As less care responsibilities are placed upon family, friends and neighbours a civil society seems to be unrealistic.