Chapter Two The need for a new approach
Abstract
This chapter is the concluding chapter of Income distribution and social change: A study in criticism. It begins with a comment in the Annual Report of the Board of Inland Revenue for 1948–49, that there had been ‘a very considerable redistribution in incomes’ (BIR, 1950, pp 82–8). It opines that the comment is particularly significant, providing official confirmation of the prevalent assumption of growing equality which is reinforced by economic studies which Titmuss also criticized. It notes that these created a climate for policy discussion in many areas, particularly taxation, and helped set the agenda on a range of issues. It notes that Titmuss emphasised ‘that data are a product, not an uncovering’ and provided a detailed and unrelenting critique of the use of ‘routine administrative statistics’ to provide the nation’s account of patterns and trends in income distribution.
Abstract
This chapter is the concluding chapter of Income distribution and social change: A study in criticism. It begins with a comment in the Annual Report of the Board of Inland Revenue for 1948–49, that there had been ‘a very considerable redistribution in incomes’ (BIR, 1950, pp 82–8). It opines that the comment is particularly significant, providing official confirmation of the prevalent assumption of growing equality which is reinforced by economic studies which Titmuss also criticized. It notes that these created a climate for policy discussion in many areas, particularly taxation, and helped set the agenda on a range of issues. It notes that Titmuss emphasised ‘that data are a product, not an uncovering’ and provided a detailed and unrelenting critique of the use of ‘routine administrative statistics’ to provide the nation’s account of patterns and trends in income distribution.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents III
- Sources of extracts V
- Introduction 1
-
The family, poverty and population
- The nation’s wealth 17
- The summation of poverty 23
- A measurement of human progress 25
- The position of women 31
-
The ‘welfare state’
- The welfare state: Images and realities 49
- The social division of welfare: Some reflections on the search for equity 59
- War and social policy 71
- Unfinished business 81
-
Redistribution, universality and inequality
- The role of redistribution in social policy 103
- Welfare state and welfare society 113
- Social welfare and the art of giving 125
-
Power, policy and privilege
- The irresponsible society 141
- The need for a new approach 159
-
International and comparative dimensions
- The international perspective 175
- Developing social policy in conditions of rapid change: The role of social welfare 185
-
The subject of social policy
- The subject of social administration 199
- What is social policy? 209
- Values and choices 215
- Bibliography 219
- Index 239
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents III
- Sources of extracts V
- Introduction 1
-
The family, poverty and population
- The nation’s wealth 17
- The summation of poverty 23
- A measurement of human progress 25
- The position of women 31
-
The ‘welfare state’
- The welfare state: Images and realities 49
- The social division of welfare: Some reflections on the search for equity 59
- War and social policy 71
- Unfinished business 81
-
Redistribution, universality and inequality
- The role of redistribution in social policy 103
- Welfare state and welfare society 113
- Social welfare and the art of giving 125
-
Power, policy and privilege
- The irresponsible society 141
- The need for a new approach 159
-
International and comparative dimensions
- The international perspective 175
- Developing social policy in conditions of rapid change: The role of social welfare 185
-
The subject of social policy
- The subject of social administration 199
- What is social policy? 209
- Values and choices 215
- Bibliography 219
- Index 239
