Welfare, Work and Poverty (Civil Society)
This is a very well written book in the sense of being grammatically correct and very persuasive in the logic of their arguments. I take issue with the overall tone of the book in one particular but fundamental area to which I shall return later. In the case of welfare reform, it is clear that all western industrialised societies are now facing a fundamental truth. The idea that public expenditures can keep on growing, financed through taxation to maintain nationalised industries and socialised programmes is one which is well past it's sell by date. Even today, over four years since this publication was produced, the paragon of socialized provision,Sweden , is learning that they cannot squeeze ever more money out of the private, productive sector or even individual consumers.
That being said, social programmes, often despite the best of intentions have repeatedly been shown to have unitended consequences which are far reaching in their impact and which often create increased demands on the welfare state.