181 SEVEN After regulation? It was never a question of regulation or no regulation, of state control or laissez-faire; there were, rather, the questions of what kind of regulation and by whom…The stability and future of the economy is grounded, in the last analysis, on the power of the state to act to preserve it. Such support does not end crises, nor does it eliminate antagonisms in the very nature of the economy, but it does assure the ability of the existing social order to overcome, or survive, the consequences of its own deficiencies. (Kolko, 1963, 4
Commentators have long debated ‘the moral’ in ideas about moral panic, moral regulation and moral discourse. This byte teases out some of the fundamental moral questions that continue to perplex us, about life and death, good and evil, and sex and the body. With an appraisal of the work of one of the chief architects of moral panic ideas, Jock Young, it asks whether these ideas may help or hinder our understanding of these complex issues.
331 20 Food waste (non)regulation Michael A. Long and Michael J. Lynch Introduction Food waste is ubiquitous. With a world population of over 6 million people that needs to be fed, waste from the production, transport and consumption of food is inevitable. However, the current scale of food waste is so large that it appears unsustainable. According to one of the more conservative estimates, almost 30 per cent of food is wasted throughout the supply chain (REFRESH, 2017). Others have suggested that up to half of all food grown is wasted (Lundqvist et al
Alcohol consumption is frequently described as a contemporary, worsening and peculiarly British social problem that requires radical remedial regulation. Informed by historical research and sociological analysis, this book takes an innovative and refreshing look at how public attitudes and the regulation of alcohol have developed through time. It argues that, rather than a response to trends in consumption or harm, ongoing anxieties about alcohol are best understood as ‘hangovers’ derived, in particular, from the Victorian period. The product of several years of research, this book aims to help readers re-evaluate their understandings of drinking. As such, it is essential reading for students, academics and anyone with a serious interest in Britain’s ‘drink problem’.
There are significant variations in how healthcare systems and health professionals are regulated globally. One feature that they increasingly have in common is an emphasis on the value of including members of the public in quality assurance processes. While many argue that this will help better serve the public interest, others question how far the changing regulatory reform agenda is still dominated by medical interests.
Bringing together leading academics worldwide, this collection compares and critically examines the ways in which different countries are regulating healthcare in general, and health professions in particular, in the interest of users and the wider public. It is the first book in the Sociology of Health Professions series.
Daniel Sutter* Department of Economics, University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019 - USA Externalities in the Economic Theory of Regulation Abstract -Th i s article considers the regulation of externalities within the interest group mod el of politics. A group concerned about correcting an externality generates zero marginal sup port at the efficient level of regulation. Politicians respond to interests direcdy affected by policy and thus inefficiently correct externalities. Keywords - Externalities, regulation, interest groups JEL classification codes - D
55 THREE Structural factors and social regulation We now move towards a fuller account of regulation, exploring factors and features that shape choices. First we discuss structural factors and oppression and explain why we favour the idea of modes of regulation. This builds on comments about structure in the preceding chapters. The next section then reviews social control, support and the management of consumption in the welfare state. Third, we address briefly the topic of ideologies, discourses and language. There is then a discussion of citizenship
Chapter objectives To consider the principles, purpose and practice of professional regulation. To explore its impact and what it might tell us about the state of the profession in Wales. To see how far we have come, and where professional regulation might develop in the future. Introduction It is often said change is the only constant in life. Despite it being such a feature of our lives, it can remain challenging and painful, frequently involving setbacks and beset by unintended consequences, but change can also be invigorating and help
Medical sociology has long been concerned with the role played by specialist forms of expertise in enabling the governance of ‘troublesome’ social groups – including those who are unwell, ‘deviant’ and criminally insane. However, only recently has it begun to explore how the state ensures the public is protected from acts of medical malpractice, negligence and criminality. Against the background of a series of high-profile scandals, including the case of Dr Harold Shipman who murdered over 200 of his patients, this topical and authoritative book examines how the regulation of doctors has been modernised by reforms to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service and the introduction of the quality assurance process of medical revalidation. In doing so, it questions whether there is evidence to support the argument that revalidation serves the public interest by ensuring that individual doctors are fit to practise.
Highlighting areas of good practice and areas for further research and development, the book is ideal for academics and postgraduates interested in medical sociology, socio-legal studies, medical law, medical education, health policy and related subjects
Introduction: health professionalisation, risk and the public interest This chapter discusses the limited regulation and management of risk in the work of support workers in health and social care compared to the more rigorous regulation of health professionals. It is evident that health care systems in the modern world are increasingly dependent on such workers. This is in part due to growing demand from ageing populations with multiple health and social care needs that require a mix of skills to provide care, but also to shortages in the supply, and the
