The Debate on Minimum Income in Spain: Charity, Development or Citizen Right

Authors

Arantxa Hernández-Echegaray, University of ValladolidFollow
Javier Pacheco-Mangas, National University for Distance Education, Spain

Keywords

Minimum income system, social work, professional discourses, social interventions, local social policies

Abstract

The current retrenchment of social protection in capitalist welfare economies has triggered the expansion of aid-based practices in response to vulnerability, far removed from the ideals of social work. This study analyzes the practices and strategies of social workers that take part in regional minimum income systems (MIS) in Spain, using a qualitative approach that makes it possible to demonstrate leading professional discourses. Findings show a limited consolidation of regional policies on minimum income in Spain, resulting in significant regional disparities. Authors emphasize the need to increase social work’s participation in formulating policies aimed at inclusion and consolidation of local and regional MIS. They propose that social work must move away from bureaucratic habits of social control and seek to strengthen citizenship and promote social development.

Recommended Citation

Hernández-Echegaray, Arantxa and Pacheco-Mangas, Javier (2018) "The Debate on Minimum Income in Spain: Charity, Development or Citizen Right," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 45: Iss. 1, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.4168
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol45/iss1/6