Mary Murphy | National University of Ireland, Maynooth (original) (raw)
Papers by Mary Murphy
Social Policy and Society, 2022
Social Policy and Society, 2021
We revise Atkinson’s concept of a ‘participation income’ (PI), repositioning it as a form of gree... more We revise Atkinson’s concept of a ‘participation income’ (PI), repositioning it as a form of green conditional basic income that is anchored in a capabilities-oriented eco-social policy framework. This framework combines the capability approach with an ‘ethics of care’ to re-shape the focus of social policy on individuals’ capability to ‘take care of the world’, thus shifting the emphasis from economic production to social reproduction and environmental reparation. In developing this proposal, we seek to address key questions about the feasibility of implementing PI schemes: including their administrative complexity and the criticism that a PI constitutes either an arbitrary and confusing, or invasive and stigmatising, form of basic income. To address these concerns, we argue for an enabling approach to incentivising participation whereby participation pathways are co-created with citizens on the basis of opportunities they recognise as meaningful rather than enforced through strict...
Social Policy and Society, 2021
Contemporary models of welfare capitalism have frequently been critiqued about their fit-for-purp... more Contemporary models of welfare capitalism have frequently been critiqued about their fit-for-purpose in provisioning for people’s basic needs including care, and longer-term ecological sustainability. The Covid-19 pandemic has also exposed the need for better institutions and a new welfare architecture. We argue a post-productivist eco-social state can deliver sustainable well-being and meet basic needs. Arguing Universal Basic Services are an essential building block and prerequisite for a de-commodified welfare state, we focus on examining the form of income support that might best complement UBS. The article develops, from the perspective of feminist arguments and the capabilities approach, a case for Participation Income. This, we argue, can be aligned with targeted policy goals, particularly reward for and redistribution of human and ecological care or reproduction and other forms of socially valued participation. It may also, in the short term, be more administratively practic...
Irish Political Studies, 2019
This paper contributes to the analysis of policy making processes in the Irish context. It offers... more This paper contributes to the analysis of policy making processes in the Irish context. It offers original insights into recent policy changes in Irish activation and social housing policy which, over the period of austerity, were subject to significant institutional reshaping and structural reforms including marketisation. A three I's framework tracing the interaction of key ideas, institutions and interests isolates dynamics informing the implementation of marketisation in these sectors and allows insights into how policy is shaped by key variables including markets, civil society and international actors. Attention is drawn to the different pathways to, and implementation of, marketisation in the different sectors. Marketisation reforms were largely implemented in PES and activation reforms, but marketisation pathways had different fortunes when it came to meeting social housing need. The paper explores why this is the case and suggests issues of scale and degrees of financialisation are important factors informing different pathways to and experiences of marketisation of social policy, with, in both sectors, important consequences for social policy and human rights. Issues of ideology, centralisation, international f(actors), timing and scale are important variables in shaping different pathways to marketisation with consequences for likelihood of political resistance to such processes.
New Political Economy, 2011
Ireland's economic boom from 1994 to 2000 (widely labeled the 'Celtic Tiger') has been seen by an... more Ireland's economic boom from 1994 to 2000 (widely labeled the 'Celtic Tiger') has been seen by analysts as indicating the country's success in benefiting from the opportunities offered by globalisation. 1 While an initial reading emphasised that economic transformation had been achieved through market liberalisation, 2 this was soon contested by a literature that focused more on the crucial role played by the state. Scholars at the influential Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) argued that 'there was a great deal more to Ireland's success than liberalization of markets. The state has been deeply implicated in the entire process, managing both economic development and the welfare state' 3. They conclude that 'it is not a simple story of globalization, forced withdrawal of the state and the promotion of neo-liberalism' 4. Examining in more detail the role played by the Irish state, Ó Riain characterised it as a 'flexible developmental state' in contrast to the bureaucratic developmental states of East Asia, arguing that this constitutes a new model of state-led development that is more responsive to the demands and pressures of globalisation. 5
Irish Studies Review, 2012
Brothers, became very prominent. As their pupils progressed to professional status, the social st... more Brothers, became very prominent. As their pupils progressed to professional status, the social status in Cork was maintained. The data on these personages are duly authenticated, and under the patronage of Stokes, and through the Garryowen Club Munster rugby prospered. In contrast, the active members and players enjoyed fame under different headings. O'Callaghan resurrected an Obituary Notice of an emigrant who was killed in America. Praise was lavished on him by both a GAA club and a rugby club, and the point was made that 'foreign' or 'native' games did not matter to such a sportsman. In another news item the fact that a Limerick family of pig dealers amassed thirty-nine cup medals made prominent headlines. Owing to the popularity of rugby, many players were elected counsellors and politicians, while others achieved notoriety by their fierceness or brute strength on the field. Under professionalism European adulation was gained by those Munster players involved with the Irish team or in the various European competitions. In this regard perhaps one could say that O'Callaghan got lost by the number each claiming 'his place in the sun'. In conclusion, the reviewer must relate an episode relative to Munster rugby of a personal encounter while on holiday in southwest France. On stopping at a restaurant situated among the pine forests of Les Landes region, the proprietor, on discovering that I was from Ireland, became quite excited. 'Ah' he said, developing a forward crouching movement, 'McLaughlin, the Munster man, carrying and dragging four Frenchmen on his back fighting the last three metres to the line-TRY!' Somewhere in the psychic of this native of Gaul a chord was struck as he recognised those who excelled in physical violent effort! To anybody interested in sport and the evolution of sport, this book gives an illuminating insight into the work required to ferret out the facts, present them in a readable manner and retain the pleasure that sport provides for countless people. It is to be recommended without hesitation.
Social Policy and Society, 2022
Social Policy and Society, 2021
We revise Atkinson’s concept of a ‘participation income’ (PI), repositioning it as a form of gree... more We revise Atkinson’s concept of a ‘participation income’ (PI), repositioning it as a form of green conditional basic income that is anchored in a capabilities-oriented eco-social policy framework. This framework combines the capability approach with an ‘ethics of care’ to re-shape the focus of social policy on individuals’ capability to ‘take care of the world’, thus shifting the emphasis from economic production to social reproduction and environmental reparation. In developing this proposal, we seek to address key questions about the feasibility of implementing PI schemes: including their administrative complexity and the criticism that a PI constitutes either an arbitrary and confusing, or invasive and stigmatising, form of basic income. To address these concerns, we argue for an enabling approach to incentivising participation whereby participation pathways are co-created with citizens on the basis of opportunities they recognise as meaningful rather than enforced through strict...
Social Policy and Society, 2021
Contemporary models of welfare capitalism have frequently been critiqued about their fit-for-purp... more Contemporary models of welfare capitalism have frequently been critiqued about their fit-for-purpose in provisioning for people’s basic needs including care, and longer-term ecological sustainability. The Covid-19 pandemic has also exposed the need for better institutions and a new welfare architecture. We argue a post-productivist eco-social state can deliver sustainable well-being and meet basic needs. Arguing Universal Basic Services are an essential building block and prerequisite for a de-commodified welfare state, we focus on examining the form of income support that might best complement UBS. The article develops, from the perspective of feminist arguments and the capabilities approach, a case for Participation Income. This, we argue, can be aligned with targeted policy goals, particularly reward for and redistribution of human and ecological care or reproduction and other forms of socially valued participation. It may also, in the short term, be more administratively practic...
Irish Political Studies, 2019
This paper contributes to the analysis of policy making processes in the Irish context. It offers... more This paper contributes to the analysis of policy making processes in the Irish context. It offers original insights into recent policy changes in Irish activation and social housing policy which, over the period of austerity, were subject to significant institutional reshaping and structural reforms including marketisation. A three I's framework tracing the interaction of key ideas, institutions and interests isolates dynamics informing the implementation of marketisation in these sectors and allows insights into how policy is shaped by key variables including markets, civil society and international actors. Attention is drawn to the different pathways to, and implementation of, marketisation in the different sectors. Marketisation reforms were largely implemented in PES and activation reforms, but marketisation pathways had different fortunes when it came to meeting social housing need. The paper explores why this is the case and suggests issues of scale and degrees of financialisation are important factors informing different pathways to and experiences of marketisation of social policy, with, in both sectors, important consequences for social policy and human rights. Issues of ideology, centralisation, international f(actors), timing and scale are important variables in shaping different pathways to marketisation with consequences for likelihood of political resistance to such processes.
New Political Economy, 2011
Ireland's economic boom from 1994 to 2000 (widely labeled the 'Celtic Tiger') has been seen by an... more Ireland's economic boom from 1994 to 2000 (widely labeled the 'Celtic Tiger') has been seen by analysts as indicating the country's success in benefiting from the opportunities offered by globalisation. 1 While an initial reading emphasised that economic transformation had been achieved through market liberalisation, 2 this was soon contested by a literature that focused more on the crucial role played by the state. Scholars at the influential Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) argued that 'there was a great deal more to Ireland's success than liberalization of markets. The state has been deeply implicated in the entire process, managing both economic development and the welfare state' 3. They conclude that 'it is not a simple story of globalization, forced withdrawal of the state and the promotion of neo-liberalism' 4. Examining in more detail the role played by the Irish state, Ó Riain characterised it as a 'flexible developmental state' in contrast to the bureaucratic developmental states of East Asia, arguing that this constitutes a new model of state-led development that is more responsive to the demands and pressures of globalisation. 5
Irish Studies Review, 2012
Brothers, became very prominent. As their pupils progressed to professional status, the social st... more Brothers, became very prominent. As their pupils progressed to professional status, the social status in Cork was maintained. The data on these personages are duly authenticated, and under the patronage of Stokes, and through the Garryowen Club Munster rugby prospered. In contrast, the active members and players enjoyed fame under different headings. O'Callaghan resurrected an Obituary Notice of an emigrant who was killed in America. Praise was lavished on him by both a GAA club and a rugby club, and the point was made that 'foreign' or 'native' games did not matter to such a sportsman. In another news item the fact that a Limerick family of pig dealers amassed thirty-nine cup medals made prominent headlines. Owing to the popularity of rugby, many players were elected counsellors and politicians, while others achieved notoriety by their fierceness or brute strength on the field. Under professionalism European adulation was gained by those Munster players involved with the Irish team or in the various European competitions. In this regard perhaps one could say that O'Callaghan got lost by the number each claiming 'his place in the sun'. In conclusion, the reviewer must relate an episode relative to Munster rugby of a personal encounter while on holiday in southwest France. On stopping at a restaurant situated among the pine forests of Les Landes region, the proprietor, on discovering that I was from Ireland, became quite excited. 'Ah' he said, developing a forward crouching movement, 'McLaughlin, the Munster man, carrying and dragging four Frenchmen on his back fighting the last three metres to the line-TRY!' Somewhere in the psychic of this native of Gaul a chord was struck as he recognised those who excelled in physical violent effort! To anybody interested in sport and the evolution of sport, this book gives an illuminating insight into the work required to ferret out the facts, present them in a readable manner and retain the pleasure that sport provides for countless people. It is to be recommended without hesitation.