Should social policy be concerned with creating equality

The principle of equality, has no clear or accurate definition but from a broad perspective a possible one could be, “equality means the removal of disadvantage.  Egalitarian policies may aim for equal treatment, without prejudice or stigma; equal opportunity, the means to achieve socially desired ends…”  (Spicker 1988; pg. 125).  Many of the supporters will aim for egalitarians concepts of equality within the social policy sphere.  Many of the social welfare provisions / services are funded by public expenditure, the increase of expenditure has been justified as its aim has been in pursuit of equality.

There are five main distinctive types of equality, that are suitable objectives for proposing distribution of public expenditure.

1.      Equality of public expenditure- public expenditure on particular  social service allocated equally between all the relevant  individuals.  For example focusing on imbalances between regions in hospital spending, or differences in public expenditure between different types of schools.

2.      Equality of final income- public expenditure on social services allocated in such a way as to favour the poor.  Allowing the less advantaged final income to be brought into line with those of the rich.  Public expenditure should be re-distributive as it is a component of the welfare state which is a system of redistribution.

3.      Equality of use- public expenditure on social services are allocated so amounts of service used by all relevant individual s are the same.  For example this could be an objective