A comparative study on asset-building policy diffusion in Korea and Taiwan

Abstract

A growing number of governments are adopting asset-based social policies to assist the poor, but how do such policies spread from one context to another? This article examines the spread of a policy concept – asset building – through analysis of policy diffusion, the process by which ideas that reach one place influence surrounding regions. Specifically, we trace this diffusion in two contexts (Korea and Taiwan) over time. In each case, asset-based research played a role in the development and diffusion of policy. These observations suggest pathways by which policy advocates and scholars can work with policymakers to help shape new asset-based policies.

越来越多的政府开始采取基于资产建设的社会政策帮助贫困人口, 但是如何将这些政策从一种环境传到另一种环境？本文通过分析政策扩散过程, 及某一地区政策观念对周围地区的影响, 探讨了资产建设的政策扩散。具体来说, 我们在韩国和台湾跟踪政策扩散。我们发现, 相比于周边地区的项目, 在同一国家或行政区域的项目联系更加紧密。在每个研究实例中, 基于资产建设的研究在政策发展和扩散中起着重要作用。这些观察显示出, 政策倡导人和学者可以与政策制定者合作, 建立新的基于资产建设的社会政策。

Keywords:

• asset building
• comparative study
• Korea
• policy diffusion
• Taiwan

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their deep gratitude to Peking University–Hong Kong Polytechnic University's China Social Work Research Centre and the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis for inviting us to present this paper at the conference, ‘Lifelong Asset Building: Strategies and Innovations in Asia’; to Dr. Yunju Nam for offering insightful suggestions on the initial draft; to Chris Leiker for his skillful editing of this work; and to the Levi Strauss Foundation for supporting this project.