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Attitudes to the State and dealing with inequalityFindings from the British Social Attitudes survey
Liz Clery, June 2012
2
Contents British Social Attitudes survey Government’s role in reducing inequality
Redistribution Welfare
Attitudes to the welfare state Benefit levels Benefit recipients How the benefit system can be improved
.
3
British Social Attitudes
1..
4
British Social Attitudes
Aims Measures attitudes to social, moral and political issues
Explores consistency, nuances How attitudes vary
Explores change over time Data collected most years since 1983 Emphasis on repeating questions
Dissemination of findings and data
Attitudes to inequality and welfare Questions included regularly since early 1980s
The Government’s role in reducing inequality
2.
6
No consensus regarding Government role
Majority recognise income differences too large. Around three-quarters think this. View has reduced since high point in 1990s.
No consensus government should redistribute income. Slightly more than one-third support
redistribution. Support has declined since mid 1990s.
7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
%% agree gap between those withhigh and low incomes too large.
% agree govt should redistributeincome from better off to less welloff
Public worry about inequality but less likely to support redistribution
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Most recognise government should be responsible for welfare
Who should mainly be responsible for… …ensuring people have enough to live on if they
become unemployed? …ensuring people have enough to live on in
retirement? …paying for the cost of healthcare if someone is ill? …ensuring people have enough to live on if they
become sick for a long time or disabled?
Mainly government Mainly a person’s employer Mainly a person themselves and their family
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Who should mainly be responsible for providing welfare?
81%
52%
88%84%
3%11%
4% 7%14%
35%
6% 7%
Ensuring unemployedhave enough to live
on (2003)
Ensuring people haveenough to live on inretirement (2010)
Paying for cost ofhealthcare when
someone ill (2010)
Ensuring people haveenough to live on if
become sick /disabled (2010)
Government
Employers
Individuals / families
10
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
People have enough to live on if they becomeunemployedPeople have enough to live on in retirement
Paying the cost of healthcare when someoneis illPeople have enough to live on if thy becomesick / disabled
Govt should mainly be responsible for welfare….
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Attitudes to welfare spending
3.
12
Understanding attitudes to welfare spending
Influenced by broader attitudes. Views on government tax and spending in general Perceptions of where more and less spending is
needed
May not be consistent. Different elements of welfare system. Attitudes to benefit levels influenced by actual
levels.
13
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1983
1985
1987
1990
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
%Reduce taxes/spend less
Keep taxes/spend same
Increase taxes/spend more
Attitudes to taxationand spending
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First and second priorities for extra government spending
Health, 71
Education, 64
Roads, 7
Police and prisons, 13
Housing, 11
Help for industry, 10
Defence, 8
Public transport, 7
Social security, 5 Overseas
aid, 2
15
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
%Declining support for extra spending on social security
16
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
1983
1985
1987
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2005
2008
2010
Old age pension
Child benefits
Benefits for the unemployed
Benefits for disabled people
Benefits for single parents
Priorities for extra spending on social benefits
17
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
%
% agree unemployment benefits too low
% agree too high and discourage work
Increasing view unemployment benefits are too high
18
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
Agree
Neither
Disagree
Should government spend more on welfare benefits?
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Attitudes to welfare recipients
4.
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Understanding attitudes to welfare recipients
Are they considered deserving of help?
Many people who get social security don’t really deserve any help.
Around here, most unemployed people could find a job if they really wanted one.
Most people on the dole are fiddling in one way or another.
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Perceptions of benefit recipients
35%
54%
35%35%
24%
34%
28%
20%
28%
Many don't deserve help Most unemployed could finda job if they wanted one
Most people on the dolefiddling
Agree
Neither agree nor disagreeDisagree
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0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
1987
1989
1991
1993
1994
1995
1996
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Many don't deserve help
Most unemployed could find a job ifthey wanted one
Most people on the dole fiddling
Recipients increasingly seen as undeserving
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Understanding attitudes to welfare recipients
Does the welfare system help them and society?
Creation of welfare state one of Britain’s proudest achievements.
If benefits were less generous, people would learn to stand on their own two feet
The welfare state encourages people to stop helping each other.
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0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1983
1985
1988
1990
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
% agree welfare state encourages people to stop helpingeach other% agree if benefits less generous, people stand on ownfeet % disagree cutting benefits would damage too manypeople's lives % disagree creation of welfare state one of Britain'sproudest achievements
Attitudes to welfare state growing more negative
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How should the welfare system be improved?
5.
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Priorities to improve existing system
Making sure those who are entitled to money
claim it Targeting benefits only at those who really need
them Awarding those who work or look for work Making sure those who save are not penalised Providing benefits for those who cannot work Making sure payments are fast and accurate Reducing fraud
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Improving the benefits system – the public’s priorities
33%
18%14% 13% 12%
6%3%
53%
37%
26%
32%
26%
14%
7%
Targetingbenefits onlyat those whoreally need
them
Rewardingthose who
work or lookfor work
Making surethose who are
entitled tomoney claim it
Reducingfraud
Making surethose who
save are notpenalised
Providingbenefits forthose who
cannot work
Making surepayments are
fast andaccurate
1st priority
1st or 2nd priority
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Improving the benefits system: change over time
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2005
2007
2010
Making sure those who are entitled to money claim it
Targeting benefits only at those who really need them
Rewarding those who work or look for work
Making sure those who save are not penalised
Providing benefits for those who cannot work
Making sure payments are fast and accurate
Reducing fraud
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Attitudes to the State and dealing with inequality
Govt role viewed as providing support, rather than redistributing wealth.
Not a priority for extra spending growing view less money could be spent.
Welfare recipients increasingly seen as not deserving Reflected in priorities for reforming existing
system. Welfare State viewed as inhibiting other
solutions.
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If you want further information or would like to contact the author,
Liz Clery
Research Director
T. 020 7549 7071
Visit us online, www.natcen.ac.uk
Thank you
