Formal and Informal Social Safety Nets

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Why Do Social Safety Nets Matter?

   • Mohammad Ashraf

   Pages 1-12

3. The Need for Formal Social Safety Nets

   • Mohammad Ashraf

   Pages 13-30

4. Research and Development, Innovation, and Economic Growth

   • Mohammad Ashraf

   Pages 31-52

5. Innovation and Formal Social Safety Nets

   • Mohammad Ashraf

   Pages 53-75

6. Income Distribution and Economic Growth and Development

   • Mohammad Ashraf

   Pages 77-103

7. Formal Social Safety Nets, Income Distribution, and the Society

   • Mohammad Ashraf

   Pages 105-138

8. Financing of Formal Social Safety Nets

   • Mohammad Ashraf

   Pages 139-164

9. Faith-Based Organizations and the Provision of Informal Social Safety Nets

   • Mohammad Ashraf

   Pages 165-191

10. Concluding Remarks

    • Mohammad Ashraf

    Pages 193-195

11. Back Matter

    Pages 197-242

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In Formal and Informal Social Safety Nets , Ashraf analyses the role of social safety nets in a time when our global economy threatens our way of life, as entire cities such as Detroit are declared bankrupt.

• development
• economic growth
• growth
• income distribution

"In short, with respect to this topic, this book scores a perfect trifecta. It needed to be written, it needed to be published, [and] it needs to be read." - Robert O. Schneider, Professor of Public Administration, University of North Carolina Pembroke, USA; Author, Emergency Management and Sustainability

"In an era when so much economic analysis has been driven by neo-liberal and anti-government ideologies, Ashraf has written a refreshingly objective examination of the costs and benefits of safety nets. It is a comprehensive, trenchant study of all the major issues surrounding this important topic, such as: (a) the need for safety nets in modern society; (b) their role in promoting innovation, economic development, and social stability; (c) problems like free-riding; and (d) methods of financing safety nets. Ashraf argues that, rather than undermining the incentive structure of a modern economy, as some assume, safety nets actually stimulate economic activity by supporting demand in times of recession, maintaining valuable skills in the workforce, reducing costly anti-social reactions to unemployment; and strengthening social and political cohesion. In short, they are a cost-effective tool. This volume is an excellent guide for policy makers, and it provides a very incisive literature review for researchers wishing to work in the field." - Michael L. Stratil, Associate Professor of Psychology (Retired), University of North Carolina Pembroke, USA

Mohammad (Mitu) Ashraf is Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina - Pembroke, USA. His research interests include: Managerial Economics, Quantitative Methods and Business Statistics. His articles have appeared in academic journals such as: Applied Economics Letters, Contemporary Economics Policy, Annals of Economics and Finance and the Journal of Economics.

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