An Examination of the Welfare State: Principles, Policies, and Changes

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the welfare state, beginning with an introduction to the concept and its role in governing. It delves into the core principles outlined in the Beveridge Report, emphasizing the aim to eliminate poverty and hardship through addressing issues like want, idleness, disease, squalor, and ignorance. The report then examines consensus politics and the measures taken by the Labour Government and the Coalition Government in establishing the welfare state. It further explores the New Right and neoliberal approaches, discussing their impact on social welfare and healthcare systems. The report also analyzes the Third Way approach and the Conservative perspectives on the welfare state. Finally, the report concludes by summarizing the key ideologies and the evolution of services related to social and health care, highlighting the challenges faced and the impact of various policies.

The Welfare State

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN PRINCIPLES OUTLINED IN BEVERIDGE.....................................................................3
CONSENSUS POLITICS................................................................................................................4
NEW RIGHT AND NEO LIBERALISM.......................................................................................5
THIRD WAY...................................................................................................................................6
COALITION/CONSERVATIVES..................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERNCES...................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The term ‘welfare state’ is a way of governing by the national government with an aim to
protect and promote the economic and social needs for its citizens. In simple words, the
government is responsible for social welfare of its citizens. Most of the countries establish
programmes that reflects the social welfare such as unemployment insurance, relief of poverty,
welfare payments and others. According to this system, the responsibility of the citizens are in
the hands of the state. Further a welfare state is relies on the principles of equal distribution of
wealth, equal opportunity and public responsibility for those who are unable to maintain basic
needs of life (Wootton, 2018).
However, in new era the increased problems accompanied by the effect of globalization led
to the transformation in the welfare state. Most of the countries opts approaches for the
development and services related to social and health care. The report examines principles laid
down in the Beveridge Report and further compared with the later approach of the welfare state.
MAIN PRINCIPLES OUTLINED IN BEVERIDGE
The Welfare State was introduced with the incoming Labour Government after the
Second World War. According to the principles laid in The Beveridge, the pioneer civil servant
Sir William Beveridge aimed to wipe out the poverty and hardship in the society. The Beveridge
Report received positive reputation during that time and since. Beveridge claimed to offer with
the protection by eliminating the poverty by formulating the famous five giants, which are:-
 Want
 Idleness
 Disease
 Squalor
 Ignorance

Figure 1: The Famous Five Giants, 2016
The principles of Beveridge model are considered as well rooted in debates related to social
and economic policies (Duffield, 2020). The Beveridge Report outlined three guiding principles
to its recommendations, which are discussed below:-
 The proposals for the future should not be limited to the consideration of sectional
interests and such can be used to gather past experiences in a clear field. As the
revolutionary moment in the history of world is a time for significant change and not for
patching.
 The organization related to the social insurance must be treated as one single piece of the
comprehensive policy leading to social progress.
 Lastly, social security is required to be attained by the co-operation between the state and
the individual. The state is responsible to offer security for service and contribution.
Thus, the state should encourage the voluntary action of individual to provide more for
itself and the family.
Therefore, the Beveridge Report aimed to facilitate a comprehensive system related to social
insurance. Further provides that all the working people must pay the weekly amount as
contribution to the state. The benefits need to be paid in return to the sick, widowed and the
retired citizens.

Later the opinion of Beveridge were evaluated with Kenyes approach in order to create
National Welfare for United Kingdom. States faced many risks such as accidents, increase of
aging population, diseases, pension payments and others. The reform efforts were made by
Bismarck in providing social security against such risks. The welfare state is undergoing into
transformation since 1975 with the evolution of social issues. Some of its key ideology changes
are:-
 Many regulations were introduced by the countries such as introduction of Minimum
wage in 1909 in UK for some of low wage industries and later the National Minimum
Wage Act in 1998 formulated and set minimum rate for workers.
 Emerging a response for solutions to address inequalities and negative ambiance created
by industrial revolution.
 Residual approach replaced by institutional approach
 Non- government organizations (NGOs) became social service providers.
CONSENSUS POLITICS
In June 1945, the first post- war resulted into the victory for the Labour Party, who were the
true supporters of the Beveridge Report. Between the year 1945 and 1951 the introducing Labour
Government passed series of measures which was known as “Welfare State”. The reforms were
formulated to protect the British citizens- ‘from the cradle to grave’. The changes made by the
Labour Government were considered as far reaching measures in the field of social reform.
Whereas, some credits were given to the Coalition Government (Jönsson, 2017). Further the
coalition of the Conservatives, Liberal and Members of labour was also responsible for the
measures which later resulted in the Welfare State. For example, the Conservative Politician
Richard Austin led the Education Act 1944 that aimed to introduce free education services for all
secondary schools across England and Wales. In 1946, a comprehensive National Insurance Bill
introduced to support and provide for old age and unemployment. Further in July 1948, the
emergence of the National Health Service continues to remain the greatest monument for labour.
Social Policies influences the health in an indirect way through the influence of social
credentials of health such as employment, housing, education and income. These factors are
considered as key influencers of health. Further social policies serves to ensure grant of social
freedom and equitable opportunities for people living in the society. The social policy focus to
ensure the welfare of the individuals through the regulations of legislatives. The legislation

which was passed in 1946, the National Health Act started its operation by providing service to
the population at low cost. Some of the provisions were that the citizens need to be registered
with the family doctor in order to receive free treatment. Further various reforms were made in
the act in 1999 and together with the Health Act 2001, led to the formation of the Primary Care
Trusts, which aim to rum social and health services (Strauss, 2020).
The last years of the Attlee’s administration i.e. the Conservative Government (1951-64)
caused economic crisis and inflation. The state opted the Keynesian approach in order to solve
the problems related to free market economy. High tax rates and increased expenditures of public
were the sign of crisis. The unemployment insurance, family aid and death insurances were opted
by most of the countries.
NEW RIGHT AND NEO LIBERALISM
The New Right approach is a consensus theory which combines the neo- liberal economies,
which refers to free trade of market and less interventions of government). The approach arise on
the failure of liberal economy to understand the social welfare. It lead to more traditional
conservative views on issues related to social welfare (family, school discipline, law and order).
The New Right Approach is focused on the role of bureaucracy as well as on pressure groups.
The ideologies of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were committed to economic liberalism
as well as on social conservative.
Some of the social issues concern are The Great Depression of 1929 devastated the
economy of the United State. It perished many businesses and increased a rapid rise in the
criminal activities as the unemployed workers started resorted to theft and other criminal
activities in order to eat food. The rates of suicides rose due the malnutrition. Alcoholism and
other sorts of illegal activities such as prostitution increased. There were severe change in the
demographics and further lead to downfall in the economy.
Neoliberal reforms caused deep changes in the social welfare as well in healthcare systems.
The impact of the reform on the social, economic and political was investigated widely. The
approach was the result of existing competition in the economic crises. The states in order to
regain economic growth started formulating new reforms. The process of privatization and
marketization eroded the welfare dependency. New inequalities and vulnerabilities emerged such
as the Welfare Reform Act 2012 caused a drastic changes. The form of social support from state

was reduced, now they have to be self-responsible rather than relying on the state. The Welfare
State restructured led the social policies determined by civil society and organizations.
Figure 2: The Great Depression, 2019
THIRD WAY
The Labour Government has seen the reform of welfare state as a daunting task. The idea to
achieve the reform is through third way, which is considered as distinctive approach that is
different from the old left and new right approach. The third way has the roots of the New Poor
Law as well as the mixed economy welfare of the Beveridge principles. It is considered as new
way of social justice (Eklund and Braunerhjelm, 2020). The Third way ‘social investment state’
rejects the standard method of taxation and income support system and further favours the
redistribution opportunities through the way of education, paid employment and training. Thus,
the social inclusion and DSP paid work is the base of the Third Way approach towards the social
policy, equality and poverty.
The policy follows some of the goals such as reduction in child poverty and inequalities. It
requires employability to be achieved through ‘supply- side’ rather than Keynesian approach.
The slogan ‘Making work pay’ provides the minimum wage, benefits from tax credits and

facilitating affordable higher quality care for child. Further the Child Support Agency, National
Childcare strategy causes a sense of responsibility towards social welfare.
COALITION/CONSERVATIVES
The model related to ‘social citizenship’ was challenged until the introduction of the
Conservative Party Leader Margaret Thatcher. In 1940 the Labour Party started working
collaboratively with the Conservative Party. Later, Inter- departmental Committee was
announced to carry out social insurance and allied services including women compensation.
Winston Churchill and the Conservative Party opposed the principles outlined in the Beveridge
Report which also included the voting against the emergence of National Health Service (Le
Grand and Robinson, 2018).
There has been distinct phases in the development of welfare state were it faced intellectual,
political and many policy challenges. The new phase was attained with the adaption of
programmes adhering the financial crash 2008 and recession in economic. The question raised
whether the welfare state is affordable during hard times and slow growth in the economy. The
Beveridge Report is considered as an inspiration and his framework has led for the basis of
establishment of various programmes related to social security, health, education, full
employment and others.
CONCLUSION
The report concludes the framework of the Beveridge Report and changes of approach in the
ideology along with the development of services related to social and health care. The report has
briefly explained the principles outlined in the Beveridge Report accompanied by the key
ideologies. Further examined the labour response to the policies and their similarities with the
principles along with the examples. Also the report discussed the New Right and Neo Liberalism
approach along with the range of social issues following with the New Right Policies. The Third
Way conservative approaches are also explained.
REFERNCES
Books and Journals

Duffield, B., 2020. The Winding Road to the Welfare State: Economic Insecurity and Social
Welfare Policy in Britain. International Social Science Review (Online), 96(1), pp.1-4.
Eklund, J.E. and Braunerhjelm, P., 2020. Migration and the European Welfare State in a
Changing World Order. In The European Union in a Changing World Order (pp. 167-
191). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Jönsson, I., 2017. Women, work and welfare. In Social Exclusion in Europe (pp. 113-134).
Routledge.
Le Grand, J. and Robinson, R. eds., 2018. Privatisation and the welfare state (Vol. 12).
Routledge.
Strauss, H., 2020. Danish Welfare State and Social Work Education and Practice: Development
and Challenges. In The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Work Education (pp. 151-
167). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Wootton, B., 2018. Reflections on the welfare state. In Approaches to Welfare (pp. 282-293).
Routledge.