http://hdl.handle.net/2173/675 Fri, 24 May 2013 03:28:12 GMT 2013-05-24T03:28:12Z http://hdl.handle.net/2173/182000 Title: The practices of happiness: political economy, religion and wellbeing Authors: Steedman, Ian; Atherton, John R.; Graham, Elaine Abstract: There is growing evidence that rising levels of prosperity in Western economies since 1945 have not been matched by greater incidences of reported well-being and happiness. Indeed, material affluence is often accompanied instead by greater social and individual distress. A growing literature within the humanities and social sciences is increasingly concerned to chart not only the underlying trends in recorded levels of happiness, but to consider what factors, if any, contribute to positive and sustainable experiences of well-being and quality of life. Increasingly, such research is focusing on the importance of values and beliefs in human satisfaction or quality of life; but the specific contribution of religion to these trends is relatively under-examined. This unique collection of essays seeks to rectify that omission, by identifying the nature and role of the religious contribution to wellbeing. A unique collection of nineteen leading scholars from the field of economics, psychology, public theology and social policy have been brought together in this volume to explore the religious contribution to the debate about happiness and well-being. These essays explore the religious dimensions to a number of key features of well-being, including marriage, crime and rehabilitation, work, inequality, mental health, environment, participation, institutional theory, business and trade. They engage particularly closely with current trends in economics in identifying alternative models of economic growth which focus on its qualitative as well as quantitative dimensions. This distinctive volume brings to public notice the nature and role of religion’s contribution to wellbeing, including new ways of measurement and evaluation. As such, it represents a valuable and unprecedented resource for the development of a broad-based religious contribution to the field. It will be of particular relevance for those who are concerned about the continuing debate about personal and societal well-being, as well as those who are interested in the continuing significance of religion for the future of public policy. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2173/182000 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2173/132553 Title: Current issues in EU aid policy Authors: Dearden, Stephen J.H. Abstract: This paper reviews those aspects of EU development policy that remain the focus for debate, both organisationally and politically, in what is an increasingly hostile global economic environment. It will assess whether the EC has delivered on its commitments to a ‘poverty focused’ aid programme and whether the objectives of the EU’s development policy need to be restated in a revised ‘Development Consensus’. It examines issues such as the future of the ACP group, the appropriateness of the balance of instruments and, in particular, whether EDF budgetisation is desirable. Finally it will discuss the challenges of achieving ‘policy coherence for development’ and of establishing an agreed ‘division of labour’ between the EC and Member States Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2173/132553 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2173/109333 Title: Keeping faith, losing faith: religious belief and political economy Authors: Steedman, Ian Description: Full-text of this article is not available in this e-prints service. This article was originally published following peer-review in European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, published by and copyright Routledge. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2173/109333 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2173/97652 Title: The challenges facing EU development policy. Authors: Dearden, Stephen J.H. Abstract: This paper commences with a brief review of the evolution of EU development policy. In response to substantial criticism the Commission undertook a major reform programme in 2000. At the policy level the first Development Policy Statement was adopted, accompanied by an administrative reform programme for the management of external assistance and the reorganisation of the EC’s structure. By 2005, and the second Development Policy Statement, substantial progress had been made but a number of issues remained unresolved. The adoption of the Lisbon Treaty with its creation of an External Action Service and enhanced role for the High Representative presages further organisational change. Member States continue to press for evidence of effective delivery and progress in contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. At the same time external developments such as the Paris Declaration on Aid Harmonisation and the on going negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group present further challenges for the Commission and the Community. This paper attempts to review the current state of play and identify those aspects of development policy that remain the focus for debate, both organisationally and politically, in what is likely to be an increasingly hostile global economic environment. It will assess whether the whether the EC has delivered on its commitments to a ‘poverty focused’ aid programme and whether the objectives of the EU’s development policy need to be restated in a revised ‘Development Consensus’. It will examine issues such as the future of the ACP group, the appropriateness of the balance of instruments and, in particular, whether EDF budgetisation is desirable. Finally it will discuss the challenges of achieving ‘policy coherence for development’ and of establishing an agreed ‘division of labour’ between the EC and Member States. Description: Paper presented at the 8th Biennial Conference of the European Community Studies Association - Canada : Wither Europe? Held 29th April - 1st May, 2010, Victoria, Canada. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2173/97652 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z