Paper Summary:

The paper looks at how Chris M. Herbst examines the effects of changing economic conditions on the efficacy of social reform and other social planning programs in his article "Do Social Policy Reforms Have Different Impacts on Employment and Welfare Use as Economic Conditions Change?." The paper notes Herbst's exemplary use of secondary research methods but also points to a weakness in the article. The paper then examines Dr. Matthew Dalbey's article "Implementing Smart Growth Strategies in Rural America: Development Patterns That Support Public Health Goals". The paper explains Dr. Dalbey's correlation between land use policies in rural America and the growing obesity problem, which exists to a larger degree in rural areas of the United States than in urban and suburban areas. The paper notes that his evidence, conclusions, and suggestions are immensely clear and understandable.

From the Paper:

"Among his findings in regards to these specifics were the facts that low-skilled mothers were the most susceptible to changes in the economic situation, and that programs intended to increase employment were more effective in low-intensity work situations when policy benefits or "carrots" were utilized, whereas in high-intensity work situations policy "sticks"--the negative or restrictive elements of a policy--were more effective in increasing employment for selected groups of workers. Herbst also comments that the evidence is not clear enough to determine exactly how economic conditions influence social reforms, but the evidence is clear that there is a correlation, especially as situations become more severe either economically or socially."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bellefeuille, G.; McGrath, J. and Jameison, D. (2008). "A pedagogical response to a changing world: Towards a globally-informed pedagogy for child and youth care education and practice." Children and youth services review, 30 (7), pp. 717-26.
• Boehm, A. (2008). "The involvement of university faculty members in social planning: Motivating and hindering factors." Higher education, 56 (6), pp. 659-84.
• Dalbey, M. (2008). "Implementing smart growth strategies in rural America: development patterns that support public health goals." Journal of public health management and practice, 14 (3), 238-43.
• Grant, M. (2008). "From dreams to disillusionment: economic and social planning in 1960s Britain." Political quarterly, 79 (4), pp. 643-4.
• Greener, I. & Powell, M. (2009). "The evolution of choice policies in UK housing, education and healthy policy." Journal of social policy, 38 (1), pp. 63-81.

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