ABSTRACT
What is social policy? Th ere are numerous defi nitions of ‘social policy’. Some authors focus only on the provision of government funds to needy individuals (like pensioners and the unemployed) – what are conventionally known as ‘ transfer payments ’ (see Esping-Andersen 1990). Others argue that ‘social policy’ goes far wider, encompassing everything governments do to improve the wellbeing of their populations, by boosting incomes and also providing health, housing and education services (Wilensky 1975). Yet others would argue that social policies do not have to be delivered by governments, but can be provided by employers, as what is known as ‘ occupational welfare ’. As a result of the existence of ‘occupational’ (work-related) and voluntary systems of welfare in many nations alongside public provision, some authors have talked of a ‘ mixed economy of welfare ’ (Powell 2007).
