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13 - How Should Childbirth Happen?

from Part II - Our Lives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2022

By
Amanda Shapiro
Edited by
Daniel Scott Souleles ,
Johan Gersel  and
Morten Sørensen Thaning
Daniel Scott Souleles
Affiliation:
Copenhagen Business School
Johan Gersel
Affiliation:
Copenhagen Business School
Morten Sørensen Thaning
Affiliation:
Copenhagen Business School
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Summary

One feature of neoliberal market imperialism is the idea that no corner of life should be off limits from market-based competition and profit. Rather predictably, this sort of economic thinking has found its way into the provision of healthcare, even in the context of countries with socialized, nationalized healthcare such as the United Kingdom. Here, Shapiro examines what happens to care for mothers and children in the United Kingdom after the introduction of neoliberal reforms and compares it to Sweden, both ostensibly national systems, but differing in their degree of market creep. Shapiro makes use of a legal, human-rights-based frame of analysis to show that birth in Sweden is far better for human well-being than it is in the UK. In terms of the overarching theme of the book, the chapter is an example of the advantages of increased government planning against neoliberal orthodoxy. Her analysis also points to the alliance between neoliberal austerity policies and the defense of traditional conservative “family values.”

Keywords

capitalismalternativesproblem-solvinghealthcareUnited KingdomSwedenchildbirthfamily values
Type
Chapter
Information
People before Markets
An Alternative Casebook
 , pp. 249 - 280
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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