ABSTRACT

Governments in all advanced industrial societies are involved in an endless struggle of how to 'square the welfare circle', as demand for public services rises due to demographic, social and labour market foctors. Government ability to finance this rising tide of public service demand is constrained by economic and, at times, ideological factors but failure to make welfare provision has adverse electoral consequeces. This is not an issue which is likely to go away. Social Policy Towards 2000 examines the issues and factors affecting the welfare state and by comparing the proposals of the three main UK political parties for the welfare system for the remaining part of the decade, offers a prospective analysis of the future of welfare.

chapter |15 pages

The Welfare Circle Towards 2000

General Trends

chapter |25 pages

Employment

Welfare, work and politics

chapter |23 pages

Social security

The cost of persistent poverty

chapter |24 pages

Education

National success and individual opportunity

chapter |25 pages

Health services

Pressure, growth and conflict

chapter |29 pages

The personal social services

The politics of care

chapter |25 pages

Housing

Need, equity, ownership and the economy

chapter |11 pages

2000 and beyond

A residual or a citizens' welfare state?