What should be the role of social security in the eradication of poverty?

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What should be the role of social security in the eradication of poverty?

Poverty has been a problem in Britain for a long time, more so before the Second World War, but it was not until after the war and the publication of the Beveridge report that anything really was done about it. Both the war and the reports publication led to the formation of the welfare state by the post-war Labour government. But more than fifty years on this country still experiences poverty despite various government’s different policies. In fact the class divide seems to be getting larger and social exclusion is still a problem for the current New Labour government, which came to power in 1997. So how much has Social Security helped to halt poverty? Should the government intervene more in order to eradicate poverty? Since the introduction of the welfare state the eradication of poverty has always been a major political talking point and depending on where an individual lies on the political spectrum signifies your thoughts on this issue. Throughout this essay I will try to answer the question, what should be the role of Social security in the eradication of poverty?

Before 1976 the methods that where put in place by the varying governments seemed to be helping in the eradication of poverty. This was because at this time the governments worked with a economic theme called Keynesian economics, this way of running the country would see the various government intervening in the economic market in order to create jobs. This interventionism would see a strive for full employment and this appeared to work but some argued that it was unsustainable as it saw the government investing in failing companies so that people would keep their jobs. In 1976 unemployment reached its highest level since the war and it was clear a new direction was needed. Although in the late 1970’s the last Labour government had one last push to make it work, they failed. In 1979 the Conservative party were elected and with “increasing unemployment, increased costs of unemployment benefit and pressure to limit entitlements” (Dr P. Bridgen, lecture on social security, 2003) it was clear a new path was needed. The beginning of Thatcherism was born, which was the Conservatives adopt “neo-classical economics” or “freedman” economics from the United States with some new hard line policies of there own.

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The success of the welfare state has long been debated, not only in this country but also in others. Political writers and social analysts all have varying views depending on where they lay on the political spectrum but all if honest could agree that when it comes to the eradication of poverty it has not been a 100% success, this speaks for itself as it is clear that there is still poverty and social exclusion in this country. But why hasn’t the welfare state which, since its birth has had billions of pounds ploughed into it, worked? Charles Murray ...

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