Whose Values Shape Social Policy?

Whose values shape social policy? Do community §interests always lose to economic rationalists in §the struggle between costs and social goals? §Sociologists such as Michael Pusey argue that §economic §rationalism displaces social values. However does §policy implementation theory draw different §conclusions about the affect of economic §rationalism? §This book uses participant values and §dynamic policy implementation concepts to test the §impact of values of economic rationality in the §Australian coordinated care policy (1994-2001). The §policy was to coordinate care, using a funds pool, §case §managers and care plans for people with chronic care §needs. The results show that the policy changed away §from values of economic rationality after the §central government agencies handed responsibility to §health agencies. However it was the §organisational values of health providers that §dominated implementation rather than §social values. The book adds to social policy §implementation theory about the impact of economic §rationalism. It shows that knowing which §organisations are responsible for policy at each §policy stage reveals whose values shape social §policy.