Benefit sanctions, social citizenship and the economy

Webster, D. (2019) Benefit sanctions, social citizenship and the economy. Local Economy, 34(3), pp. 316-326. (doi: 10.1177/0269094219852336)

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Abstract

Throughout the history of National Insurance in the UK, there has been relatively little emphasis on benefit conditions or sanctions (previously called disqualifications). The relevant academic literature has been correspondingly thin. But over the past three decades there has been a dramatic shift to increased conditionality in social security, accompanied by increased harshness in the penalties. This has started to spawn a substantial new literature. This review article considers three significant recent publications. Although written from different perspectives, they all conclude that the current UK sanctions system cannot be justified. The review article argues that more attention needs to be paid to the flaws in the economic case for conditionality. It concludes that effective reform of the system depends on a reassertion of the concepts of social citizenship which underlay the development of National Insurance in the 20th century.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Review article.
Keywords:Benefit sanctions, national insurance, social insurance, unemployment, welfare conditionality.
Status:Published
Refereed:No
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Webster, Dr David
Authors: Webster, D.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
Journal Name:Local Economy
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:0269-0942
ISSN (Online):1470-9325
Published Online:05 June 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Author
First Published:First published in Local Economy 34(3): 316-326
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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