Social Policy
- Credits: 6
- Ending: Examination
- Range: 24sP
- Semester: winter
- Year: 3
- Faculty of Economics and Finance
Teachers
Included in study programs
Teaching results
The aim of the course is to equip students with knowledge and basic analytical skills in relation to the main areas of interest of social policy as a scientific discipline and as a practical activity in a changing socio-economic environment. The student will gain the ability to independently perceive and analyze social problems and critically evaluate the proposed methods of their solution. To lead students to understand the relationship and application of criteria of economic and social efficiency in relation to various entities in the process of creating and implementing social policy. The subject is based on social theory, explains the types of social policy and develops basic knowledge of the theory and practice of social policy through knowledge about the functions of social policy, its social and economic conditionality, its principles, content and specific tools in our country and abroad.
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
- understand the values, principles, and goals of social policy
- be familiar with the theories, legislation, concepts and strategic documents related to the issue
- be familiar with social policy identifiers in qualitative form, which will make it possible to examine economic phenomena from a quantitative point of view
- understand the principles of functioning of social policy models
- apply knowledge in practical situations and take a creative approach to solving specific social situations
- understand socio-economic relations for their effective application in economic practice
- to gain knowledge about the types, manifestations, structure and dynamics of social problems on a national, regional scale and about the relations between them
- to gain knowledge about sources of information, methods of data collection and processing in the social field
- synthesize the basic features of social theory in relation to the European environment
Competence
- ability to work independently with studies related to social policy
- openness to perception and interpretation of social phenomena and problems
- the ability to take the social aspect into account when solving practical economic problems
Skills
- apply the right methods, procedures and techniques in specific social situations in the field of creation as well as implementation of social policy
- identify the responsibility of specific institutions according to competencies for social problems
- interpret the results of analyzes in the social field
- the ability to identify individual social benefits for beneficiaries in specific life situations
discuss social problems and their possible solutions
Indicative content
1. Social policy and its definition. Social awareness and social legislation. Stages of development and personalities of social policy in the European area. Social policy as a theory and practice.
2. Values of social policy. Principles and functions of social policy.
3. Definition of legal, economic and program instruments of social policy. Participation and roles of actors in social policy. Institutional and competence framework in the social field.
4. Market environment and social policy, transformation process of social sphere, decentralization, deregulation. The relationship between social and economic policy.
5. Social and economic problems. Transformation of social policy and its adaptation to new socio-economic and social changes, aspects of economic and subsequently social reform. Fiscal problems of social policy and their social causes.
6. Social policy and European integration, social protection systems in the EU, development and foundations of European social policy, social rights in the EU.
7. Typology of social policy models in selected EU countries. Economic performance and social consideration of social systems, solidarity and meritocracy in the social subsystems of the Slovak Republic.
8. Poverty and social exclusion, causes and manifestations of poverty, measurement of poverty, poverty and social inequalities, spatial and social context of poverty, target groups at risk of poverty and social exclusion, strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion, social inclusion policy. Rescue social network.
9. Definition of social security and its subsystems. Economic sustainability and efficiency of subsystems in the context of changing conditions.
10. Quality of life and society. Economics and quality of life, developmental aspects of quality of life. Factors and determinants of quality of life.
11. The position of education in society and its function, the role of the state and other subjects of educational policy. Equitable access to education. Rate of return on investment in education. Educational system in Slovakia. Current problems in the field of education.
12. Objectives and tools of housing policy, methods of financing, housing support, current problems. The role of housing policy in the social quality of life of the citizen, support for housing development in the countries of the European Union.
13. Health, its importance and place in society. Healthcare and health insurance. Definition of target groups, the role of the state, the market and the individual.
Support literature
1. Sika, P. a kol.: Sociálna politika. Vydavateľstvo EKONÓM, 2018. ISBN 978-80-225-4544-0.
2. Dudová, I., – Stanek, V., – Polonyová, S.: Sociálna politika. Wolters Kluwer, 2018. ISBN: 978-80-8168-866-9.
3. Krebs, V. a kol.: Sociální politika, Wolters Kluwer, 2015. ISBN: 978-80-7478-921-2.
4. Spicker, P.: Social Policy: Theory and Practice. Bristol University Press, 2014. ISBN 9781447316107
5. Baldock, J., – Mitton, L. – Manning, N., – Vickerstaff, S.: Social Policy. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199570843.
Requirements to complete the course
10% active participation in professional discussion, 30% presentation output from a case study, 60% exam
Language whose command is required to complete the course
Slovak, English
Date of approval: 07.02.2023
Date of the latest change: 27.10.2021