A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Neoliberal rationality and the age friendly cities and communities program: Reflections on the Toronto case
Abstract This article examines how neoliberalism works through the Age Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCCs) program through reflections on the Toronto case. While AFCCs appear to expand the social contract between senior citizens and the state, research illustrates discrepancies between program aims and implementation, relating gaps to cost cutting associated with neoliberal austerity. Drawing on Brown's (2015) work, I posit instead that neoliberalism does not just affect the implementation of AFCCs through economic policies of austerity but operates as a governing rationality that can economize the very design of the program. Specifically, I examine how the neoliberal techniques of benchmarking, governance, devolution and responsibilization operate through the AFCC program in Toronto. This analysis offers insight into the problems that plague AFCCs in Toronto and more broadly, including how neoliberalism works to more fundamentally change the social contract. At the same time, this analysis highlights tensions, forms of discontent and even dissent with neoliberalism that can create openings for alternative governing rationalities that expand the social contract to take root.
Highlights Neoliberal rationality works through the AFCC program to narrow the social contract between senior citizens and the state Benchmarking can decontextualize AFCCs from the political economy of cities AFCC governance is challenged by power inequities between partners AFCC policy can be used to devolve responsibility in a context of pre-existing resource constraints AFCC policy can serve to responsibilize seniors to limit their burden on the state and economy
Neoliberal rationality and the age friendly cities and communities program: Reflections on the Toronto case
Abstract This article examines how neoliberalism works through the Age Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCCs) program through reflections on the Toronto case. While AFCCs appear to expand the social contract between senior citizens and the state, research illustrates discrepancies between program aims and implementation, relating gaps to cost cutting associated with neoliberal austerity. Drawing on Brown's (2015) work, I posit instead that neoliberalism does not just affect the implementation of AFCCs through economic policies of austerity but operates as a governing rationality that can economize the very design of the program. Specifically, I examine how the neoliberal techniques of benchmarking, governance, devolution and responsibilization operate through the AFCC program in Toronto. This analysis offers insight into the problems that plague AFCCs in Toronto and more broadly, including how neoliberalism works to more fundamentally change the social contract. At the same time, this analysis highlights tensions, forms of discontent and even dissent with neoliberalism that can create openings for alternative governing rationalities that expand the social contract to take root.
Highlights Neoliberal rationality works through the AFCC program to narrow the social contract between senior citizens and the state Benchmarking can decontextualize AFCCs from the political economy of cities AFCC governance is challenged by power inequities between partners AFCC policy can be used to devolve responsibility in a context of pre-existing resource constraints AFCC policy can serve to responsibilize seniors to limit their burden on the state and economy
Neoliberal rationality and the age friendly cities and communities program: Reflections on the Toronto case
Joy, Meghan (author)
Cities ; 108
2020-10-08
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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