THE RATIONALE FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES IN SOCIETIES Professor John Wilton Public Sector policy rationale: not only economic considerations, but mixture of economic resource considerations and social factors 2 political/ideological views: (i) centre right/right (ii) centre left/left ---------------------------- (i) centre right/right (‘free market’ liberals) - development of large (too large) Public Sector counterproductive = a constraint on the functioning of the free-market (‘crowds out’ Private Sector investment and enterprise) - plus = growth of large state bureaucracy, the cost of which raises levels of taxation on individuals and businesses (ii) from the centre left/left’ of the political spectrum – social democrats - Public Sector is a positive and necessary development as it is needed socially to protect the most vulnerable citizens in society from the worst excesses of the ‘free- market’ - plus, it also has economic gains for the market as it assists in the production of highly skilled, well-trained, well educated, healthier, workforce •1. THE PROBLEMS –social and economic changes •2. THE REMEDIES? –two governmental approaches to tackling the problems •3. THE PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES AND PROBLEMS –theoretical principles and issues in defining social justice within the public sector • •THE PROBLEMS •- A European ‘social and economic’ revolution • •a revolution of a change in family structures –change in the pattern and make up of families •a revolution of a change in demography –change in the age make up of societies •a revolution of change in women’s lives –changes in societies which most affect women BRITAIN’S ‘SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION’ • •1949 1 out of 3 British workers was a woman •2008 1 out of 2 British workers was a woman • •1950s women 10 years out of employment on birth of first child (on average) •2008 women 9 months out of employment on birth of first child (on average – those that return to work) • BRITAIN’S ‘SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION’ •by 2009 Britain had highest divorce rate in EU (with Finland) – increased by 400% 1950 to 1990 (highest divorce rates among people under 25) •Single person households UK: • 1971 6% 2006 13% • 2021 35% (government estimate) • • BRITAIN’S ‘SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION’ • •- in 1971 in Britain 8 per cent of children brought up by a single parent • •- by 2009 in Britain 24 per cent of children brought up by a single parent (3 million children, average age of single parent = 36.9 years) BRITAIN’S ‘SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION’ -30 per cent of all babies in UK were born outside marriage (to unmarried mothers) in 1994 (including babies born to couples living together but not married) -44.4 per cent in 2007 • BRITAIN’S ‘SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION’ •Demographic changes • • % population % population • 65 and over under 16 • 1984 15% 21% • 2009 16% 19% • 2034 (estimate) 23% 18% •By 2026 estimated number of people aged over 65 will outnumber 16 to 24 year olds by 2 to 1 •Average age UK: 1984 35 years, 2009 39 years BRITAIN’S ‘SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION’ •Demographic changes • •in 1961 one million people in Britain were over 80 years old • •by 2009 2.5 million people in Britain were over 80 years old •Average number of years people living beyond 65: • 1978 15 2004 18 2030 21 • (estimate) BRITAIN’S ‘SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION’ •in 1950 in Britain 20 per cent of health care resources spent on people over 65 • •By 2009 in Britain 50 per cent of health care resources spent on people over 65 • •2009 National Health Service clients aged 65 and over = 75 per cent THE REMEDIES? • •1. The Thatcher approach • - based on the ideas of the libertarian right • •2. The Blair approach • - based on ideas and theories of social justice THE REMEDIES? • •1. The Thatcher approach • –only one way of judging what was a ‘just’ outcome – it should be the product of a free market THE REMEDIES? •1. The Blair approach •the equal worth of every citizen •meeting basic needs •equality of opportunity •equality of ‘life chances’ (personal freedom and autonomy) •the principle of fair reward (removal of disadvantage and discrimination) •rights (for citizens) and responsibilities (of citizens) THE PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES AND PROBLEMS •to each according to his or her rights –legal, institutional and moral rights •to each according to his or her deserts –those with greater skills and talents deserve more •to each according to his or her needs –the need of the basic requirements of life •FOUR PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE • •the foundation of a free society is the equal worth of all citizens •everyone is entitled, as a right of citizenship, to be able to meet their basic needs •the right to self-respect and personal autonomy demands the widest possible spread of opportunities •unjust inequalities should be reduced and, where possible, eliminated • –