Book Reviews: Introduction to Social Security: Policies, Benefits and Poverty, E-business Utilisation in European Social Security Systems
| Author | Paul Henman,Wim van Oorschot |
| DOI | 10.1023/A:1010067308818 |
| Published date | 01 June 2000 |
| Date | 01 June 2000 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
European Journal of Social Security, Volume 272,221-226; 2000.
©Kluwer Law International (KLI). Printed in the Netherlands.
Book Reviews
221
John Ditch (ed.), Introduction to Social Security: Policies, Benefits and Poverty,
London, Routledge, 1999,247 pages, ISBN 0-415-21430-0.
The title of this book may easily create false expectations.
It
appears to suggest that
here is something that is seriously lacking: namely a general introduction to the broad
field
of
social security. From the title one could anticipate chapters on definitions
of
and approaches to social security; on principles, aims and methods
of
private welfare
and social insurance and assistance; onthe nature
of
the various (new) social risks; on
the design, financing and implementation of benefit schemes and systems; on the
social and economic effects and outcomes
of
social security; on social security's role
in the wider economy and on the politics
of
the welfare state, etc. Although in the pref-
ace the editorclaims that thebook is a generalist text 'seeking to introduce social secu-
rity to a wider policy and academic audience', the actual scope is much less ambitious
than the title suggests. Very briefly put, the book is about poverty, and its relief, in the
UK, with a special focus on the role that the UK social security system plays in pover-
ty relief. As such, this well written and highly accessible book can be reviewed posi-
tively.The expertise of its well known authors guarantees the reader high quality chap-
ters, which will not disappoint those who are interested in the topics covered: the
definition and measurement of poverty, the aims
of
social security, the historical devel-
opment of UK social security policies, the adequacy (standards) of social security, the
take-up of benefits in the UK, and the role
of
social security in relieving poverty
among specific vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, the disabled, women and ethnic
minorities, in the UK. The book ends with a fine and pointed discussion of poverty
and social security in the context of the European Union. What is strikingly missing,
however, is a chapter on poverty among the unemployed and the related role of'unem-
.ployment insurance and assistance,as well as present day 'welfare to work' policies.
Perhaps this is one
of
the 'lost camels', ametaphor used by the editor when explain-
ing that some
of
the original contributors withdrew during the project. The 'non-spe-
cialist' reader, at whom the book claims to be directed, will also miss the lack
of
a
more extended explanation
of
the basic structure
of
the UK social security system,
going beyond the mere inventory of benefits in the introduction. Nevertheless, the
book deserves a place in courses for undergraduate students
of
socialpolicy in the UK.
For those with a more continental European view
of
social security and the welfare
state, it is remarkable to note how strongly poverty and social security are related to
one another in this book. In this sense the book can be regarded as the product
of
a
typical Anglo-Saxon conception
of
social security - public support only for those who
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SECURITY
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