This book looks at the role of social policy, particularly social security, in addressing the ongoing challenge of poverty in East Asia despite the region's spectacular experience of economic growth in decent decades.

Part I: Introduction and Context Introduction: Poverty and Social Policy Responses in East Asia Kwong-leung Tang and James Midgley 1. The Role of Social Security in Poverty Alleviation: An International Review James Midgley Part II: Country Case Studies: Social Security in East Asia 2. The Emergence of Social Assistance in China: Challenges and Issues Joe Leung, and Xu Yuebin 3. Social Assistance Programmes in Singapore Mui-teng Yap 4. Korea's National Basic Livelihood Programme and Social Development Joon Yong Jo 5. Welfare-to-Work Reform in Hong Kong: Overview and Prospects Kwong-leung Tang 6. Rural Social Protection in China: Reform, Performance and Problems Xu Yuebin and Zhang Xiulan Part III: Innovations and Issues of Social Policy and Poverty in East Asia 7. Building Assets for the Poor in Taiwan: Policy Innovation from Income to Assets Li-Chen Cheng 8. From Micro-Credit to Micro-Insurance: Creating Social Security Where There is None Takayoshi Amenomori 9. The Social Investment Fund of Thailand Shinichi Shigetomi 10. Knowledge of Public Policy and the Perceived Positive Impact of The Welfare Benefits System C. K. Wong and Kwong-leung Tang 11. Social Security, Housing Policy and Asset Building: The Relevance of Home Ownership for Elderly Income Protection in Hong Kong James Lee