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A Tale of Two Cities: A Comparative Study on the Welfare Regimes of Hong Kong and Macao

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2014

Dicky W. L. Lai  and
Ernest W. T. Chui
Dicky W. L. Lai
Affiliation:
Macau Polytechnic Institute E-mail: [email protected]
Ernest W. T. Chui
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Despite their geographical proximity, and similarities in ethnic composition and political contexts, Hong Kong's and Macao's social policies have not been compared in the literature. This article aims to compare the welfare regimes between these two city-states. The comparison involves two dimensions: the pattern of welfare mix, and the modification impact of social policy on the capitalist social structure. It is found that the two states’ patterns of welfare mix have much in common, and their social policies are both marked by a relatively low level of modification impact. Therefore, the conclusion is drawn that Hong Kong and Macao can be grouped into a distinct welfare regime. The major contributions of this study are that it helps add to the understanding of East Asian social policy and suggests a useful framework for comparing welfare regimes.

Keywords

Hong KongMacaoEast Asian welfare regimewelfare mixmodification impact
Type
Themed Section on Managing Social Change and Social Policy in Greater China: Welfare Regimes in Transition?
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 263 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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