One Social divisions, exclusion and retirement
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Kirk Mann
Abstract
This chapter approaches retirement using the concept of a SDW. Thus we begin with an account developed within the ‘orthodox’ tradition of social policy (Lee and Raban, 1988). The basic features of the SDW were set out in the Introduction; the task here is to show how Titmuss’s original essay, suitably revised, continues to provide an invaluable descriptive and analytic approach. The chapter initially sets out Titmuss’s approach in a little more detail. However, Titmuss’s account is not without its flaws and questions of economic, social and political power, that acknowledge the close correspondence with gender, class and ‘race’, have to be posed. Revisions to the original idea from Sinfield (1978) and Rose (1981) that have developed the conceptual features of the SDW are then explained in turn. The chapter provides some evidence of the different elements of the SDW and identifies informal welfare as a fourth element. Rights, security, choices, forms of dependency, and income are all related to the different elements of the SDW. Towards the end of the chapter the idea of welfare regimes is briefly introduced alongside questions about the different means by which welfare can be provided. It will hopefully be shown that the SDW continues to provide a useful framework for exploring the different forms of welfare that have developed for retirees.
Richard Titmuss was the first Professor of Social Administration to be appointed in the UK, taking up his post at the influential London School of Economics and Political Science. He was formerly the government’s official historian for social policy during the Second World War and he later worked closely with members of the Labour government.
Abstract
This chapter approaches retirement using the concept of a SDW. Thus we begin with an account developed within the ‘orthodox’ tradition of social policy (Lee and Raban, 1988). The basic features of the SDW were set out in the Introduction; the task here is to show how Titmuss’s original essay, suitably revised, continues to provide an invaluable descriptive and analytic approach. The chapter initially sets out Titmuss’s approach in a little more detail. However, Titmuss’s account is not without its flaws and questions of economic, social and political power, that acknowledge the close correspondence with gender, class and ‘race’, have to be posed. Revisions to the original idea from Sinfield (1978) and Rose (1981) that have developed the conceptual features of the SDW are then explained in turn. The chapter provides some evidence of the different elements of the SDW and identifies informal welfare as a fourth element. Rights, security, choices, forms of dependency, and income are all related to the different elements of the SDW. Towards the end of the chapter the idea of welfare regimes is briefly introduced alongside questions about the different means by which welfare can be provided. It will hopefully be shown that the SDW continues to provide a useful framework for exploring the different forms of welfare that have developed for retirees.
Richard Titmuss was the first Professor of Social Administration to be appointed in the UK, taking up his post at the influential London School of Economics and Political Science. He was formerly the government’s official historian for social policy during the Second World War and he later worked closely with members of the Labour government.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and tables iv
- Acknowledgements v
- Acronyms and glossary of terms vii
- Introduction 1
- Social divisions, exclusion and retirement 17
- Two versions of political economy: ease and plenty or immiseration and crisis? 49
- Consumption, consumers and choice 79
- Post-work and post-structuralism: first past the post? 111
- Risk and post-traditional welfare 143
- Looking (or put out) for greener grass? Some comparative measures of ‘success’ 173
- Prophets, profits and uncertain conclusions 207
- Bibliography 225
- Index 255
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and tables iv
- Acknowledgements v
- Acronyms and glossary of terms vii
- Introduction 1
- Social divisions, exclusion and retirement 17
- Two versions of political economy: ease and plenty or immiseration and crisis? 49
- Consumption, consumers and choice 79
- Post-work and post-structuralism: first past the post? 111
- Risk and post-traditional welfare 143
- Looking (or put out) for greener grass? Some comparative measures of ‘success’ 173
- Prophets, profits and uncertain conclusions 207
- Bibliography 225
- Index 255
