social policy essay

7/27/2019 Social Policy Essay

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What are the key influences on the development of social policy?

There are many elements which influence the development of social policy; from recognised social

problems through to economic and ideological elements, there are many factors capable of bearing

a significant even key influence upon the creation and implementation of social policies. The aim

of this essay is to articulate what arguably, are the key influences upon the policymaking process

namely economic conditions and to a lesser extent, political factors.In order to explore the influences pertaining to social policy, it is necessary to provide a working

definition of what Social Policy is. Classic examples of social policies are the activities of

governments in providing finance and services to their citizens (Hill: 2003), in order to promote

wellbeing (Alcock,2008:3 in alcock et al). However such an assertion gives little attention to any

agency but the state, although Hill (2003:1) qualifies this by arguing the term social policy is used

primarily to define the role of the state in relation to the welfare of its citizens. For the purposes of

this essay then, a working definition of social policy will be the focus of governmental policies to

provide welfare or wellbeing as the two terms are interchangeable (ibid) to its citizens. This

emphasis has been recently evidenced in the current governments wellbeing measure proposal

(Guardian, 2010). The focus will be following in the tradition of the social policy discipline by framing

this study with an Anglo-centric focus, exclusively on the UK.

There are many ways in which wellbeing could be assessed, however it is difficult to objectively

define what constitutes a sufficient level of wellbeing (Liddard, 2003 in Baldock). One way to

measure would be to assess the level of social need, however the same pitfalls exist when defining

needs.There can be no straightforward connections made involving facts about need and therespective social policies to address them (Liddard, 2003 in baldock:129). Whilst social need is an

important factor in forming policy indeed Liddard (2003:129) argues the recognition and

satisfaction of need distinguishes the welfare function of the state the lack of agreement about

which needs should be prioritised lies at the heart of conceptual welfare (ibid:129).


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Whilst need and consequently, social problems undoubtedly have played a role in policymaking

the influential Beveridge report of 1942 centred on five giants (Fraser, 2003), which contemporarily

appear social problems born of social needs and rapidly became the blueprint for the modern

British welfare state (nationalarchives.gov.uk). However, the lack of consensus over what constitutes

a social need demonstrates that whilst it certainly has and will continue to play a significant role in

policymaking, it is undermined by lack of consensus, making it vulnerable to other factors, such as

economic and political influences possibly leading to differening interpretations of what constitutes

need.

Welfare refers to the spectrum of social arrangements in place to meet needs of individuals and

groups, and to tackle social problems (Manning:2008 in Alcock). But why is it necessary for state

intervention? Glennerster (2008:227) argues that there is no intrinsic reason why individuals

cannot privately purchase welfare services, provided they have the money. Indeed influential

economists such as Milton Friedman among others argue that the state should limit itself to paying

individuals so they can privately consume welfare services (ibid). However the composition of needs

and the respective services to meet them mean they are unsuitable for individual market purchase

(ibid:227). In addition, the nature of welfare provision means some services are non-excludable

clean air cannot be portioned off and sold for private consumption, it is either present or not and

this example can be described as a market failure (ibid). In addition to non-excludable factors,

private consumers may make less efficient choices (referred to as information failure) in areas of

welfare such as education or healthcare in a market environment, and even lead to behavioural

failure when choice abundance leads to inaction (ibid). Market failures help explain why a free

market economic system idealised by Thatcher and economists such as von Hayek (Alcock, 2008)

of privately purchased welfare cannot be relied upon as a majority source of welfare provision in the

UK; arguably state intervention is more efficient in ... special cases (Glennerster:227) such as

health and education. This is perhaps the most fundamental economic influence on policy that


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capitalism is inefficient or even incapable of adequately and inclusively providing welfare to the

extent of rendering intervention, from the state, voluntary or informal sectors, unnecessary.

Whilst we have established the purview of social policy (to provide welfare and ensure wellbeing to

citizens), and reasons for state intervention (market failure), it is useful to understand how state

provision is achieved. The quandary facing policymakers in deciding who to administer welfare to

and in what quantities can be seen in two ways choices about distribution and redistribution of

provision in the form of services, resources and money and secondly, decisions about how to fund

welfare though varying taxation scales to determine who and how much is paid (Blakemore &

Griggs, 2007). As one of the most significant forms of inequality in the UK is in terms of income

distribution (Liddard 2003, in Baldock) welfare in this country is largely concerned with redistribution

of wealth in order to provide a base level of welfare (ibid). This is one of the most significant factors

affecting policymaking, as it follows that no policy can be drafted without the requisite funding.

Manning (2003:31 in Baldock) posits that financial resources or lack thereof are a pre-eminent

constraint on government action. In this sense, it could be said all policies are at the mercy of

economic determinism.

Since the inception of the welfare state, social policy has become irremovably enmeshed with

governments and politics (Manning, 2003 in Baldock), which demonstrates the gravitas that politics

can play on policymaking. Its influence cannot be overstatedPolitical party manifestos routinely

include substantial proposals for changes in social policies (ibid:29). Indeed, governments have been

elected on the grounds of their social policies, such as the Labour government of 1951s mandate to

enact Beveridges proposals (Nationalarchive). Reasons for political decisions on policy may be

caused by external pressures such as economic conditions, or be more fundamental in nature, such

as ideological approach. For example, the mid-twentieth century was characterised by a shaky

consensus best evidenced by Butskellism when consecutive Labour and Conservative governments

demonstrated continuity, rather than a shift, in policy (Fraser, 2003). However this accord was more


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down to politically pragmatic reasons; ideological differences still existed in areas such as education

and private housing (ibid). An example of a more ideologically motivated policy approach, would be

how the Thatchers governments healthcare policies were determined by politics, rather than

rational planning (Manning, 2003:30 in Baldock) , however they came in a period of economic

challenge in the form of disproportionate rising costs that led to a powerful critique of the Welfare

State itself. Thus fiscal imperatives were once again at the forefront of policymaking. Even the

political decisions that enabled the Welfare State to develop were largely due to economically

favourable circumstances enabling it to develop deep roots which would be both difficult and

electorally dangerous to alter (ibid:265).

In conclusion, this study of policymaking influences has demonstrated the primacy of economic

conditions in shaping social policy. Whilst political factors certainly are prominent, economic

requirements can dictate the scope for any state action and consequently are the most influential

element of governmental policymaking in the UK.

Unprecedently, this government used the level of unemployment as an economic tool tocontain inflation (Fraser, 2003:283)

The ideas that sustain political parties are frequently developed through pressure groupsand think tanks who take in the task of thinking the unthinkable as far as policies are

concerned. For example previous conservative governments have consulted the Institute of

Economic Affairs (IEA) as well as the Adam Smith Institute, whereas the former Labour

government drew on the Fabian Society amongst others. 41


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Governments are not the only source of welfare provision and services, however theyremain tremendously important, particularly when considering the political influences on

social policy. (Manning in Baldock et al:32)

Bibliography

Alcock, P. May, N. and Rowlingson, K. (eds) (2008) The students Companion to Social Policy

Hill, M. (2003) Understanding Social Policy(fifth edition). Blackwell: Oxford.

Baldock, J. Manning, N. and Vickerstaff, S. (2003) Social Policy(Second edition). Oxford press: Oxford

Fraser, D (2003) The Evolution of the British Welfare State (Third edition). Palgrave Macmillan:

Basingstoke

Blakemore, K. Griggs, E. (2007)Social Policy: an introduction (Third edition) chapter 5 McGraw Hill

House: Maidenhead

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/brave_new_world/welfare.htm

(accessed 14/11/10)
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/brave_new_world/welfare.htmhttp://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/brave_new_world/welfare.htmhttp://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/brave_new_world/welfare.htm

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