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Income management in A ustralia: A critical examination of the evidence
Author(s) -
Mendes Philip,
Waugh Jacinta,
Flynn Catherine
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of social welfare
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1468-2397
pISSN - 1369-6866
DOI - 10.1111/ijsw.12066
Subject(s) - disadvantage , public economics , welfare , control (management) , economics , quality (philosophy) , business , actuarial science , political science , law , market economy , philosophy , management , epistemology
The introduction of income management – sometimes called welfare quarantining – for subgroups of Australian income security recipients within the N orthern T erritory, and subsequently a number of other trial sites, has provoked considerable contention. The present study critically examined the arguments and evidence presented in favour of income management with particular reference to the guidelines, methodology and findings of official evaluations conducted by the C ommonwealth G overnment. We identified five key issues that do not seem to be adequately addressed by official evaluations: choice and control, the quality of decision making, consultation with local community members, structural disadvantage and economic cost. We used these concepts to develop a proposed alternative model for assessing the impact of income management on local communities.