Economic Inequality and Economic Crisis: A Challenge for Social Workers

Abstract

To social workers, extreme economic inequality is primarily a violation of social justice, but this article shows how growing economic inequality since the mid-1970s was not only unjust, but also dysfunctional to the U.S. economy and linked to the recent economic crisis with its devastating effects, particularly on the social work clientele. The article identifies interrelated changes in ideology, the market economy, and government policies since the mid-1970s; contrasts the political economy of this period with the preceding post-World War II decades when the trend was toward a "shared prosperity"; and shows how increased economic inequality and political consequences that undermined democracy itself contributed to the economic meltdown. The analysis has implications for the direction of social reform and for broadening the constituency of social movements in pursuit of the social work mission of social justice. How social workers can contribute to such movements and to a reduction of economic and political inequality is explored.

Families with young children in times of economic downturn: Implications for social work practice

“…If the perspectives and lived experiences of parents (i.e., mothers) in general are taken into account, they are often ignored or not understood by professionals (Humbert & Roberts, ). Moreover, the existing research on the impact of economic downturn on parents is often research on parents , looking at the psychological and individual dimensions of unemployment (Brand, ; Cole, ; Goldberg, ; Strandh, ; Strier, ).…”

Rising wealth and income inequality in Australia and New Zealand: A radical social work critique and response

“…The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers fares slightly better with three explicit references to poverty within the practice standards (ANZASW, 2014). Similarly, there is a relatively small amount of contemporary social work research that directly addresses wealth inequality or its impacts (see for example, Beddoe & Keddell, 2016;Goldberg, 2012;Krumer-Nevo, 2015;Hosken, 2016;Marston & McDonald, 2008;Mays et al, 2016b;Morley & Ablett, 2016;O'Brien, 2011;Parrott, 2014;Rashbrooke, 2013). The dominance of neoliberal policies and discourses that prioritise economic over social imperatives and emphasise individual responsibility, has also resulted in practice interventions that reinforce rather than address existing social and economic exclusion.…”

Empowering Clients to Have an Impact on Their Environment: Social Work Practice with Groups

“…Evidence suggests that social work professionals are committed to the ideal of social justice and comprehend the impact that environmental influences, particularly social and economic inequality, have on their clients (Goldberg, 2012). Yet, practitioners often are forced to overlook the environmental realities of clients' lives.…”