Welfare

Question 1

Beveridge Report - 1942

Answer 1

5 evils of society:
Want - poverty - national assistance/benefits
Ignorance - poor education - better quality/young
Disease - poor health - NHS
Squalor - poor housing - social housing
Idleness - unemployment (1930) Great Depression - back to work emphasis

Question 2

What were the beliefs of social democracy 1951-1979 LW?

Answer 2

Some groups will always be in poverty, the poor should not be penalised, the poor are entitled to a basic standard of living.

Question 3

Describe the post war welfare state (1945-1979)…

Answer 3

Dominated by LW social democratic welfare. Makes all work, jobs were created by the government for them. Hugh taxation funds free education and the NHS, in 1974 it was 83% over £20,000 but only 750,000 paid this. Universal benefits.

Question 4

What are the advantages of universal benefits?

Answer 4

No stigma, high take up (affluence) and less time/money spent on admin.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of universal benefits?

Answer 5

Expensive - high taxation, unnecessary claiming and no way to refuse them.

Question 6

How did Giddens (1998-1999) criticise social democracy?

Answer 6

Fails to adjust to changes in society.
Lone parents.
Changing roles of women. 
Assumes all want to work.
Costs are too high.
Basic standards are changing (absolute to relative).

Question 7

What were the beliefs of the New Right (1979-1997)?

Answer 7

Society needs entrepreneurs, they should be rewarded and allowed to keep their income, so there should be low taxes. The state acts as an referee, welfare causes poverty.

Question 8

How does welfare cause poverty directly (Murray)?

Answer 8

Undermines the will to work.

Question 9

How does welfare cause poverty indirectly (Marsland)?

Answer 9

Roles are needed in government to manage systems. Taxes are needed to pay for these roles.

Question 10

What major changes to the welfare state state did the new right make?

Answer 10

Reduced welfare expenditure termed “rolling back the state”. Made benefits targeted and means tested. Introduced social policies such as CSA which reduces costs if benefits by making absent parents pay. Encouraged welfare privatisation (less strain on resources and more tax).

Question 11

What are the new right NOT interested in?

Answer 11

Relative poverty, there will always be inequality, the best will thrive generating employment and taxes lessening poverty.

Question 12

What are the advantages of means tested benefits?

Answer 12

Costs less, less taxes. Only those who need them get them.

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of means tested benefits?

Answer 13

Extra admin costs, those above the line may be worse off termed the poverty trap. Stigma attached to claiming them.

Question 14

What are the criticisms of the New Right?

Answer 14

If the welfare state were abolished poverty would increase. There is evidence of failings of private sector taking over provisions. The correlation of social ills and the welfare state does not mean it is a cause.

Question 15

The third way/new labour (1997-2010) - Giddens 1990’s

Answer 15

Poverty is not isolated to a lack of money, should also link to:
Health differentials
Crime and antisocial behaviour 
Problem neighbourhoods
Parenting
Education

Question 16

Describe the new labour welfare state…

Answer 16

Mixture of means tested and universalism. Emphasis on rights and responsibilities. Paid employment for all (not making jobs though). Welfare provided by private, voluntary and informal as well as the state. Influenced by Giddens.

Question 17

What is late modernity?

Answer 17

Adjusting to social and economic changes.

Question 18

What are the economic changes associated with late modernity and how did the third way deal with them?

Answer 18

Job for life no longer applicable, technology changing too fast. Government provides training schemes and incentives to work.

Question 19

What are the social changes associated with late modernity and how did the third way deal with them?

Answer 19

Single parents, women in work. Government to provide equal opportunities and help with childcare.

Question 20

What are the criticisms of the third way/new labour?

Answer 20

social policies to eradicate poverty failed. Are minimum wages too low? Wealthy get the best welfare. Propitiation failed, NHS waiting lists. Was labour new of just a mixture? Expectation to work for income is problematic eg for mothers. High taxes still. Inequality increased.

Question 21

What welfare policies did the coalition (2010-2015) RW change?

Answer 21

Uni tuition fees - cap removed
Health in pregnancy grant - scrapped
EMA - scrapped
Chikd benefits - means tested
BSF - scrapped
Child trust funds - scrapped

Question 22

What policy did the coalition government want to introduce?

Answer 22

Universal credit to replace the 50 specific benefits, reducing admin costs but increasing poverty.

Question 23

What is welfare pluralism?

Answer 23

Using more than one institution to provide welfare to the population.

Question 24

What are the 4 welfare institutions?

Answer 24

Voluntary, private, informal, statutory.

Question 25

What are the advantages of voluntary welfare provision?

Answer 25

Costs are less to the government, personal touch,mom tied hard working care. More trust in voluntary organisations. 1990 community care act.

Question 26

What are the disadvantages of voluntary welfare provision?

Answer 26

Lack training, feminists say it falls on women - no pay.

Question 27

Advantages of informal welfare provision?

Answer 27

Cuts costs eg care homes, high quality personal care. parsons. Functionalism. Makes people feel good about themselves.