The Beveridge Report of 1942 captured the public imagination with its principles of universal social insurance in Britain. Beveridge's idea was to use universal benefits to remove the poverty caused by contingencies such as unemployment or disability. This book examines the underlying assumptions of Beveridge's scheme, the circumstances surrounding its implementation, and its short- and long-term effects on social security in Britain and around the world. The contributors argue that the reality, over the past fifty years, has been vastly different from the principles and vision Beveridge...

Social security forms a major area of government policy and social expenditure. Government activity in this area impacts directly on all citizens, and consequently social security policy is the focus for much debate. People are affected by social security whether by funding it through taxation, or using it when claiming unemployment or other benefits. This text provides an up-to-date text on this important and complex social policy issue in 1999. It includes an introduction for students of social policy and administration and contributions from some of the best known and most respected names...

Social Security forms a major area of government policy and social expenditure. Government activity in this area impacts directly on all citizens, and consequently social security policy is the focus for much debate. People are affected by social security whether by funding it through taxation, or using it when claiming unemployment or other benefits. Introduction to Social Security is an up-to-date text on this important and complex social policy issue. It provides a second introduction for students of social policy and administration and includes contributions from some of the...