Welfare Reform on the Web (January 2008): Welfare state - UK

Changing patterns of UK poverty, 1997-2004

A. Angeriz and S.P. Chakravarty

Cambridge Journal of Economics, vol. 31, 2007, p. 995-1006

Before a view can be taken about the efficacy of the New Labour government’s poverty reduction policy for households with children, it is necessary to establish whether the reduction in the head count ratio of child poverty has been obtained at the expense of other groups amongst the poor. Analysis of Households Below Average Income data conforms reductions in the numbers of children living in poverty, but inequality measures sensitive to the distribution of income amongst the poor suggest that the experience of those that remained poor may have worsened.

'God' and other 'do-gooders': a comparison of the regulation of services provided by general practitioners and social workers in England

A. McInnes and V. Lawson-Brown

Journal of Social Work, vol.7, 2007, p. 341-354

This article explores the differences in status between general practitioners and professionally qualified social workers in England and the ways in which each profession is regulated. High profile scandals such as the Shipman case and the death of Victoria Climbie have shaken public confidence in the regulation of GPs and social workers. There has been an increase in more stringent independent regulation of social workers, but less impetus towards an equivalent system for monitoring GPs.

Made to measure

T. Shifrin

Public Finance, Oct. 26th- Nov. 1st 2007, p. 16-18

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has set out a vision of personalised public services tailored to the needs of each recipient. This article explores how measures such as individual health budgets and one-to-one tutoring in schools could be delivered in practice.

Reforming public services in the UK: bringing in the Third Sector

J. Kelly

Public Administration, vol. 85, 2007, p. 1003-1022

In the latest round of public service reform, the New Labour government has focused on the establishment of a mixed economy of providers which will extend user choice and increase service personalisation. To this end it is actively involving Third Sector organisations in the shaping and delivery of services in the fields of welfare benefits, social care, education, crime reduction and healthcare. New Labour believes that this approach will counter the professional rigidities and self-seeking behaviours commonly found in public sector organisations. This vision is inspired by the belief that Third Sector organisations are more innovative, are motivated by altruism, and have greater commitment to their clients.

The Third Way and the third sector: New Labour’s economic policy and the social economy

H. Haugh and M. Kitson

Cambridge Journal of Economics, vol. 31, 2007, p. 973-994

The third sector is defined in this paper as including voluntary and community sector groups and social enterprises. Since New Labour came to power in 1997 the third sector has received significant government support and encouragement, enabling it to move from the economic margin towards the mainstream and play a growing part in economic, political and social life. It is now instrumental in delivering a range of government policies and operates alongside the public and private sectors in providing education, training, health, social care, housing and environmental services.