ABSTRACT
New concepts are needed, new words through which to express them, new ways of presenting official statistics and new national accounting techniques. The case for income security rests on three connected arguments; first, the theoretical limitations of social insurance as a system of exclusion. Second, its practical disadvantages, its failure to meet expectations, its effects on the labour market and its effects on family life; and finally the need to provide a safety net that is proof against tax. The introduction of free, compulsory education, free health care and social insurance are conspicuous exceptions. Children will be brought up by other children's mothers, in return for a wage, education will degenerate into preparation for the labour market and old people will be hived off into institutions. Social insurance protects the strong and not-so-strong but leaves the weak dependent on means-tested social assistance or poor relief, and in some countries nothing at all.
