Structure of social assistance in lithuania from the perspective of the client’s autonomy and paternalism
Review
The possible effects of social assistance policy are autonomy and dependency of social assistance user. The outcomes of the policy depend on the forms of social assistance (benefits in cash or benefits in kind), the amount of benefits, the attributes of provision and others. The outcome of social assistance is chosen at the collective choice level. Benefits in cash develop autonomy of social assistance user and benefits in kind frustrate the autonomy, because of their paternalistic nature. The existing social assistance policy reflects the attitudes and priorities of politicians towards autonomy and paternalism. Empirical indicators for the evaluation of autonomy and paternalism in social assistance policy are expenditure, benefits, legal documents, the attitudes of politicians and administrators.
