The Future of Social Security Policy Women, Work and A Citizens Basic Income (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy)

Current debates concerning the future of social security provision in advanced capitalist states have raised the issue of a citizen’s basic income (CBI) as a possible reform package: a proposal based on the principles of individuality, universality and unconditionality which would ensure a minimum income guaranteed for all members of society. Implementing a CBI, would consequently entail radical reform of existing patterns of welfare delivery and would bring into question the institutionalized relationship between work and welfare. Ailsa McKay’s book makes a unique and positive contribution to the CBI literature by examining the proposal from a feminist economics perspective. Gender concerns are central to any debate on the future of social security policy, in that state intervention in the field of income redistribution has differential impacts on men and women. By drawing attention to the potential a CBI has in promoting equal rights of freedom for men and women this book serves to open up the debate to incorporate a more realistic and inclusive vision of the nature of modern socio-economic relationships. 1. Introduction : Social Security Reform -- A Possible Strategy -- 2. Justifying Income Transfers -- 3. Social Security Or Income Maintenance Policy? : A Question Of Definitions -- 4. 'basic Income' Or 'basic Income Maintenance' : A Micro-approach To Policy -- 5. Why A Citizens' Basic Income? : The Story So Far -- 6. Arguing For A Universal Income Guarantee : The Reformist Case -- 7. Arguing For A Cbi : A Radical Policy Response? -- 8. Commodification Versus Non-commodification : A Feminist Economics Perspective In Support Of A Citizens' Basic Income -- 9. Conclusion : The Way Forward? Ailsa Mckay. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [252]-263) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 10 Copyright......Page 11 Contents......Page 13 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Glossary......Page 15 1 Introduction......Page 17 2 Justifying income transfers......Page 28 3 Social security or income maintenance policy?......Page 52 4 ‘Basic income’ or ‘basic income maintenance’......Page 78 5 Why a Citizens’ Basic Income?......Page 106 6 Arguing for a universal income guarantee......Page 124 7 Arguing for a CBI......Page 174 8 Commodification versus noncommodification......Page 212 9 Conclusion......Page 227 Notes......Page 233 Bibliography......Page 236 Index......Page 246 Develops a feminist economics perspective of social security reform, with particular reference to the granting of a universal and unconditional minimum income guarantee in advanced capitalist countries. Covers the justifying of income transfers and issues of social security vs. income maintenance policy The purpose of the book is to critically assess current welfare reform agendas with specific reference to the world of paid work and social security policy from a feminist economics perspective