The Welfare of Nations

James Bartholomew

• Publisher: Biteback Publishing
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781849548304
• eBook ISBN: 9781849549080
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Military Science & Technology
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Why is unemployment so low in Switzerland but so high in Spain? Why is social housing more successful in Singapore than in France? Why do welfare states across the world function so differently to Britain's? The twentieth century experienced an epochal war between capitalism and communism, but the real winner of the conflict, James Bartholomew argues, was welfare statism. The defining form of government of our age, welfare states have spread across the advanced world and are changing the very nature of modern civilisation. In his bestselling book The Welfare State We're In, Bartholomew controversially argued that the British welfare state has done more harm than good. Many people - including Lady Thatcher - responded by saying, 'If that is the case, what should we do about it?' Now, in this hard-hitting and provocative new contribution, Bartholomew sets out to answer that question. Travelling across the globe, from Australia in the east to San Francisco in the west, he investigates what happens elsewhere in the world and considers which welfare models Britain could potentially follow. His search for the best education, healthcare and support services takes him to eleven vastly different countries as he teases out the advantages and weaknesses of other nations' welfare states and delves into crucial issues such as literacy, poverty and inequality. What damage is being done by failing welfare states? What lessons can be learned from the best welfare states? And is it too late to stop welfare states permanently diminishing the lives and liberties of people around the world?

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Dedication
• Contents
• The World Quiz
• Preface ‘No! No! No!’ How Lady Thatcher helped to prompt the writing of this book
• 1: Why are so many Swedish people disabled? The world of welfare from Opheltas to Bismarck to the clever research of Kathryn Edin
• 2: Heart of the darkness Welfare states and unemployment
• 3: In search of the best healthcare system in the world Rather like looking for the Lost Ark of the Covenant
• 4: ‘Daisy, cross your fingers.’ The scandal of state education
• 5: ‘Do I have “stupid” tattooed on my forehead?’ Social housing – apple pie with poison in the filling
• 6: ‘In our liberal society, there is a group of staunchly conservative people: children.’ Inconvenient truths about parenting
• 7: ‘People used to be grateful and eager. Now the attitude is: “I want this. You get it for me.”’ The effect of welfare states on behaviour
• 8: Not to be read by anyone under the age of forty Pensions and their unexpected consequences
• 9: ‘While her dear father lived, any change of condition must be impossible for her. She would never quit him.’ Who cares for the elderly?
• 10: ‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.’ The public sector
• 11: ‘It’s like putting all bus drivers through astronauts’ training.’ The training and qualifications bonanza
• 12: Democracy is like a drunk husband The trouble with representative democracies
• 13: And the winner is… communism capitalism welfare statism! Overview
• Ten tips for better welfare states
• Best and worst welfare states
• Groundhog Day – but not everywhere: themes and contrasts
• Appendix: Inequality – do bigger welfare states create more equal, happier people?
• Welfare jargon explained
• Acknowledgements
• Index
• Picture Credits
• Copyright