RSS / e-News
Deciphering the human cost of the financial crisis
At a recent conference held by the UN research agency UNRISD, the human dimension of the crisis was explored more thoroughly. Several speakers suggested that there is evidence that the crisis has accentuated and compounded existing social negativities (inequality, insecurity, poverty etc.), or what some have referred to as the “the crisis before the crisis”, while inducing new social difficulties also. For instance, it was argued that the crisis may increase preventable mortality; induce greater social anomie embodied by more self-maximising behaviour (i.e. where an individual puts the attainment of his own interests before that of others) coupled with diminished social altruism; intensify gender inequality with women bearing the burden of increased care work; provoke more family breakdowns and intra-familial abuse; increase mental depression and suicide, and the consumption of illicit and legal drugs.
According to recent interviews with specialists conducted by the ISSA, the incidence of work-related stress is increasing. In developing countries, the crisis means withdrawing children from school and the elimination of “non-essential education”, “distress sales” of female labour (i.e. to the sex industry), decreased caloric intake along with decreased consumption of quality food and all the associated health risks this entails. Another important point is that much of the damage will be irreversible. Young adults and children marked by this crisis will be adversely affected for the rest of their lives; this will affect social capital and human capital formation.
This is not an exhaustive list of actual and potential impacts, but what it does underline is why social security can be important as social stabilizer, protecting income and health.
Sources
Elson, D. 2009. Social reproduction in the Global Crisis . Presentation at: UNRISD Conference on Social and Political Dimensions of the Global Crisis 12-13 November 2009.
ISSA. Nov 2009. Financial crisis and occupational safety and health: Interview with experts
.
www.issa.int/aiss/News-Events/Videos2/Financial-crisis-and-occupational-safety-and-health-Interview-with-experts
UNRISD. 12-13 November 2009. Conference on Social and Political Dimensions of the Global Crisis: Implications for Developing Countries
. Palais des Nations, Geneva.
www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BD6AB/(httpEvents)/0D3FD969E8D5D89DC12575F60044976F?OpenDocument
最新消息
Investment in social protection is "alternative to austerity", says Argentine Vice-President
国际社会保障协会,
2012.05.15 |
News Strengthening the social protection of migrant workers in Eurasia
The ISSA Good Practice Award for the Americas
Related events
-
10th International Conference on Occupational Risk Prevention
2012.05.23 - 2012.05.25 | Bilbao, Spain -
17th ISSA International Conference of Social Security Actuaries and Statisticians
国际社会保障协会, 2012.05.30 - 2012.06.01 | Berlin, Germany -
Technical Seminar on the Collection of Social Security Contributions
国际社会保障协会, 2012.06.05 - 2012.06.06 | Hammamet, Tunisia