Social Policy in a Cold Climate: Policies and their Consequences since the Crisis

by Ruth Lupton (Editor), Tania Burchardt (Editor), John Hills (Editor), Kitty Stewart (Editor), Polly Vizard (Editor)

Overview

Social Policy in a Cold Climate offers a data-rich, evidence-based analysis of the impact Labour and coalition government policies have had on inequality and on the delivery of services such as health, education, adult social care, housing and employment in the wake of the greatest recession of our time. The authors provide an authoritative and unflinching analysis of recent approaches to social policy and their outcomes following the financial crisis, with particular focus on poverty and inequality. Through a detailed look at spending, outputs and outcomes the book offers a unique appraisal of Labour and the coalition’s impact as well as an insightful assessment of future directions. This volume offers a much-awaited follow-up to the critically acclaimed ‘A more equal society?’ (2005) and ‘Towards a more equal society?’ (2009).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447327721
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	05/01/2016
Series:	CASE Studies on Poverty, Place and Policy
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	342
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

John Hills (1954-2020) was Richard Titmuss Professor of Social Policy and Co-Director of the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics. He wrote extensively on inequality, public policy and the welfare state. He was a member of the Pensions Commission and Chair of the National Equality Panel for the Labour government and led a review of the measurement of fuel poverty for the Coalition government. He was knighted in 2013 for services to the development of social policy.

Table of Contents

Introduction ~ Ruth Lupton, Kitty Stewart, Tania Burchardt, John Hills and Polly Vizard; Part One: Benefits, pensions, tax credits and direct taxes ~ John Hills, Paola De Agostini and Holly Sutherland; Young children ~ Kitty Stewart and Polina Obolenskaya; Schools ~ Ruth Lupton, Stephanie Thomson and Polina Obolenskaya; Further and higher education and skills ~ Ruth Lupton, Lorna Unwin and Stephanie Thomson; Employment policy since the crisis ~ Abigail McKnight; Housing ~ Becky Tunstall; Health ~ Polly Vizard, Polina Obolenskaya and Emily Jones; Adult social care ~ Tania Burchardt, Polina Obolenskaya and Polly Vizard; Part Two: Public and private welfare ~ Tania Burchardt and Polina Obolenskaya; Socioeconomic inequalities ~ John Hills and Kitty Stewart; The changing structure of UK inequality since the crisis ~ John Hills, Jack Cunliffe and Polina Obolenskaya; Spatial inequalities ~ Ruth Lupton, Polina Obolenskaya and Amanda Fitzgerald; Part Three: Summary and conclusion ~ John Hills, Ruth Lupton, Tania Burchardt, Kitty Stewart and Polly Vizard.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Hats off to CASE for another in their invaluable series on whether social policy is meeting its goal of a fairer society. This authoritative account of social policy and wellbeing from 2007 to 2015 is chilling but essential reading." Jane Waldfogel, Columbia University, USA

"Another superb assessment of UK social policies, this time in the face of austerity, from the anti-cyclical policies of Labour through to the end of the austerity coalition. So authoritative, resourceful and speedy!" Jonathan Bradshaw, University of York, UK

"A one-stop shop for an authoritative and measured assessment of the response to the crisis by the Labour government and of the unfortunate policies of the 2010-15 Coalition – which is what you’d expect from this team." Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent

Editorial Reviews

“Analysis of the high quality we have come to expect from these authors—a vital contribution to current debates about the fundamental policy principles and goals of the welfare state.

Fran Bennett

“The subtext is clear: austerity is damaging the access to, and the quality of, certain services. The authors provide sophisticated levels of analysis in proving this, presenting intricate data on spending levels and its impact since the recession.

LSE Review of Books - Chris McLachlan

"This book offers a reference guide for readers who want facts, figures, and a meticulous analysis of social policy in order to critique the claims that make headline news."

Frontline Magazine (UK)

"With the policy agenda of the last government set to continue, [this] work deserves to be read and consulted widely." Carys Roberts, Progress Online

"Does the financial crisis and its aftermath represent a key turning point in the history of the UK welfare state? This is an essential resource for anyone interested in UK social policy." Jonathan Portes, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, UK

"This book offers a reference guide for readers who want facts, figures and a meticulous analysis of social policy in order to critique the claims that make headline news." Frontline Magazine

"Analysis of the high quality we have come to expect from these authors - a vital contribution to current debates about the fundamental policy principles and goals of the welfare state." Fran Bennett, University of Oxford

"An essential addition to the bookshelves of anyone who studies or is involved in UK social policy" - Journal of Social Policy

"The authors provide sophisticated levels of analysis and [present] intricate data." LSE Review of Books

From the Publisher

Objective, thorough analysis of the kind found in this book is important, both for better policy making and for holding politicians of all political colors to account for their promises and record in government. The editors explicitly aim to inform the public debate, looking ‘behind the claims and counter-claims made through the media.’ With the policy agenda of the last government set to continue, their work deserves to be read and consulted widely.

Progress Magazine (UK)

"An essential addition to the bookshelves of anyone who studies or is involved in UK social policy."

Journal of Social Policy

Does the financial crisis and its aftermath represent a key turning point in the history of the UK welfare state? This is an essential resource for anyone interested in UK social policy.

Jonathan Portes

Another superb assessment of UK social policies, this time in the face of austerity, from the anti-cyclical policies of Labour through to the end of the austerity coalition. So authoritative, resourceful, and speedy!

Jonathan Bradshaw

A one-stop shop for an authoritative and measured assessment of the response to the crisis by the Labour Government and of the unfortunate policies of the 2010‒15 Coalition—which is what you’d expect from this team.

Peter Taylor-Gooby

Hats off to the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) for another in their invaluable series on whether social policy is meeting its goal of a fairer society. This authoritative account of social policy and well being from 2007 to 2015 is chilling but essential reading.

Jane Waldfogel