{"title":"Mark Considine","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our collection of works by Mark Considine, a distinguished author known for his incisive analysis and thought-provoking perspectives on political and social issues. With a focus on \u003cem\u003ePolitics \u0026amp; Current Affairs\u003c\/em\u003e, Considine’s books delve deep into the complexities of governance, public policy, and the interplay between state and society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore \u003cem\u003eBuying and Selling the Poor\u003c\/em\u003e, where Considine illuminates the challenges faced by vulnerable groups within economic systems, shedding light on the policies that influence their livelihoods. This insightful work encourages readers to reexamine welfare and its impact on marginalised communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Careless State\u003c\/em\u003e, Considine critically appraises government negligence and the consequences of political apathy on public service delivery. This book invites an engaging discussion on how state priorities can often overlook the essential services crucial to citizen welfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMark Considine’s writings are essential for anyone interested in understanding the inner workings of political structures and their broader societal implications. Dive into his compelling narratives that challenge conventional understanding and offer new lenses through which to view contemporary issues.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"buying-and-selling-the-poor-by-michael-mcgann-9781743327869","title":"Buying and Selling the Poor","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBuying and Selling the Poor\u003c\/i\u003e ventures behind the scenes of the multibillion-dollar welfare-to-work system, offering new insights into how Australia responds to unemployment and disadvantage. As the authors tell the story of four local employment offices, they paint a vivid picture of a critically important social service which many people are aware of but which few properly understand. They also reveal the wider impacts that processes of marketisation and welfare reform have had on these frontline services over decades, and how the work of frontline staff and service providers has been transformed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBuying and Selling the Poor\u003c\/i\u003e looks closely at how these services operate, why some succeed where others fail, and what can be learned from the stories of local staff and clients who have navigated the system. Three decades into this market experiment, how well are we doing in supporting our most vulnerable citizens to get back to work?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBuying and Selling the Poor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e takes a rigorous but accessible look inside the 'black box' of our privatised jobseeker market, and at the commodification of the people within it. The authors, academics in the fields of politics, public policy and social science, combine their 20 years of survey data with immersive fieldwork. This revealing, often heart-wrenching work will prove enlightening for not only those within the policy field, but also anyone with an interest in or experience dealing with a system that often feels like a race to the bottom. - Kim Thomson, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooks+Publishing\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848600080620,"sku":"9781743327869","price":67.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/19180373482808.jpg?v=1758992301"},{"product_id":"the-careless-state-by-mark-considine-9780522879018","title":"The Careless State","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA powerful statement of how to fix Australia's failing social services.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe lives of all Australians are profoundly affected by the quality of social services available, but a long list of royal commissions and public inquiries have revealed them to be failing. In \u003cem\u003eThe Careless State\u003c\/em\u003e, Mark Considine shows that the preferred model of reform has failed to adapt and improve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1980s, Australian governments faced rapidly increasing demand for services in areas like employment assistance, aged care, childcare, and vocational education and training. To respond to this challenge, governments led by Bob Hawke and Paul Keating pioneered the introduction of service markets, where private companies compete with public institutions and charities in newly constructed social services. This 'choice revolution' was embraced and extended by the Howard government. Market choice continues to drive reform across a wide spectrum of programs and social services.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConsidine's detailed investigation demonstrates conclusively that important aspects of the experiment with social service markets have failed. Weak quality control, systematic rorting, and entrenched disadvantage have become the norm. Private business interests and shareholders' interest have often displaced established charities and commitment to quality care for all. The service systems are careless, leaving clients to make choices without real information or protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConsidine points to alternative ways that reforms could be configured to get the best from both private and public agencies, and find a new approach to save these failing services.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46850007564524,"sku":"9780522879018","price":40.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3924723482374.jpg?v=1759074403"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/mark-considine.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}