The Coalition programme includes restructuring public provision through reforms and cuts which will take spending in the Britain below that US. This article explores whether agenda is best understood as a new approach to Britain's deep‐seated economic short‐comings or simply normal politics of gaining retaining power. It analyses current government's programme, identifies common features across range policies discusses how they are likely develop encounter set‐backs.

This article reviews the main approaches to risk in psychology and sociology considers recent developments. It shows that research continues from a wide range of perspectives. Some developments psychological thinking have recently acknowledged importance cultural framing perceptions responses positive power emotions manage uncertainties, while some streams work moved toward more individualist approaches. These converging processes open opportunities for cross‐fertilization using insights...

Abstract The 2010 Coalition has set itself the challenge of combining an unprecedentedly rapid and profound retrenchment with a fundamental restructuring public sector, both to be accomplished within five years. immediate justification is presumed need reduce national indebtedness. longer‐term goal shrink state, free up market British political economy on new course. programme encountered number set‐backs some elements appear more likely realized than others. This article considers...

This article links together three themes in recent discussion of welfare. First, the extent to which current patterns state welfare provision are likely continue has been called into question. Disillusion with traditional model derives part from government response economic pressures, likelihood that changes demography, employment and popular expectations will increase demands on state, tendency theorists advocate pluralist, decentralized, mixed economy civil society-based solutions...

The circumstances which favoured the expansion of state welfare in post-war ‘golden age’ – secure growth, full employment, moderate needs and national politico-economic autonomy have been reversed ‘silver labour market restructuring, demographic transition economic globalisation. Most researchers argue that European settlement is (so far) surprisingly resilient face current challenges. This article argues analysis states has approached from two basic directions quantitative comparative case...

List of Figures. Tables. Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Explanations the Growth State Welfare. 2. New Directions in European Welfare Policy. 3. Globalization and State. 4. Politics: The Narrowing National Conscience. 5. Neo--liberal Argument for Retrenchment. 6. Squaring Circle. 7. Impact Institutional Frameworks. 8. Futures. References. Index.

Focusing on welfare states in capitalist societies, The Welfare State Transition carries forward the debate pluralism, identifying and discussing problems involved transferring responsibility for services from state to other three sectors.

ABSTRACT The post-war settlement rested on confidence that state welfare combined with neo-Keynesian economic management supported progress and enhanced social stability. New approaches from the 1970s onwards inspired by monetarism saw extensive as a damaging burden. is currently emerging in European debates argues centred investment, appropriate de-regulation use of benefits to support employment mobility can again contribute objectives virtuous spiral growth justice. In practice, however,...

The welfare state is the distinctive contribution of Europe to modern world. Other places do market capitalism better, and democracy, art culture at least as well. However, future European in question, a result economic globalisation, pressures from population ageing other social changes dominance an EU primarily committed creating open rival that US. An important recent critique project argues cohesion diversity are simply incompatible – with implication, grows more diverse, states will...

This paper uses innovative democratic forums carried out in Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom to examine people’s ideas about welfare-state priorities future prospects. We use a moral economy framework context of regime differences move towards neo-liberalism across Europe. Broadly speaking, attitudes reflect differences, with distinctive emphasis on reciprocity value work inclusion equality individual responsibility work-ethic UK. Neo-liberal market-centred appear have made little...

Abstract New welfare has been prominent in recent European social policy debates. It involves mobilising more people into paid work, improving human capital and ensuring fairer access to opportunities. This programme is attractive business (more workers, better reduced conflict enhance productivity profitability) citizens widely accessible job-opportunities with rewards): a relatively low-cost approach the difficulties governments face maintaining support meeting goals as inequalities widen....

Enthusiasm for the expansion of markets in welfare reflects currency assumptions derived from rational choice theory among policy-makers. This article reviews recent evidence ESRC's Economic Beliefs and Behaviour programme that calls into question basic tenet approach – individual choices are driven by instrumental rationality argues require a normative framework which trust plays an important role. Experimental work economic psychology indicates individuals often display level market...

Abstract This paper starts out from a puzzle. During the past thirty years, incomes have grown more unequal, small group at top has captured much greater share of resources and poverty increased. Despite this, most people are markedly less likely to want government redistribute income or tackle sympathetic towards those without jobs. The insecurity many people's lives in current crisis renders issue perplexing. describes trends inequality, unemployment; presents new data on attitudes, media...