27:1 issue contents - Universalism and the Welfare State

Austerity has failed. And Covid-19 now presents us with the biggest challenge in 70 years. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the last crisis. We need a different approach – one that recognises the importance of a strong social contract and a state capable of upholding it.

This issue tackles some of the questions underlying the welfare debate: what would a stronger social contract look like? Is a more universalist approach desirable? And how do we build the political support to get there?

Contents

• Editorial/ Shreya Nanda, Chris Thomas, Rachel Statham, and Joshua Emden
• After the pandemic/ Alison Garnham
• There’s a crack in everything / Wim Van Lancker
• The Swedish social contract / Lars Trägårdh
• Review: Peter Sloman’s The Transfer State / Stewart Lansley
• Beyond universal basic income / Christine Berry
• Out of business? / Aveek Bhattacharya
• There is still a need for a universal welfare state / Bent Greve
• Intelligent kindness / John Ballatt, Penelope Campling, and Chris Maloney
• Fortune favours the affluent / Adrian Smith
• Will Covid-19 change attitudes towards the welfare state? / John Curtice
• Universal basic income and Covid-19 / Dr Rajiv Prabhakar