Informal Social Protection and Poverty

This book explores the importance of informal social protection provided by religious institutions such as madrassas in Pakistan, highlighting their role in preserving and extending human knowledge. It also provides a Multiple Regime Framework for identifying various regimes in a country and proposes a novel data collection and analysis strategy to better target social protection policies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 295 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the profound significance of informal social protection offered by religious institutions, particularly madrassas, in a low-income country like Pakistan. It sheds light on the historical role of madrassas, which are religious schools that have existed in numerous Muslim countries for centuries, in preserving, shaping, and expanding human knowledge during the medieval era. While madrassas are often perceived today as purveyors of a narrow education that fosters religious fundamentalism and may contribute to terrorism, this book argues that education is not the sole purpose of these institutions. Instead, they play a vital role in providing welfare support to vulnerable and marginalized households in many low-income countries.

Through detailed analysis and comprehensive coverage, this book helps readers gain a deeper understanding of informal social protection, a concept that has not been previously conceptualized. It explores the various attributes and institutions worldwide that provide this form of welfare, providing valuable insights for social policy scholars, national governments, and international donor/aid agencies. Moreover, the book offers a prescriptive framework for integrating formal and informal social protection, contributing to the development of more effective social protection policies in the face of fiscal constraints.

In addition to its analytical insights, this book presents a novel Multiple Regime Framework for identifying various regimes in a country at a specific point in time. This framework employs a unique data collection and analysis methodology, making it of particular interest to social policy scholars, national governments, and donor/aid agencies. By applying this framework, policymakers can better target social protection policies to ensure that they reach the most vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, this book provides a valuable data collection and analysis strategy that will benefit readers interested in research methodology. The book's comprehensive coverage and innovative approach make it a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to enhance social protection and promote inclusive development in low-income countries.

Weight: 635g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811964732
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022