attitudes to the state and dealing with inequality findings from the british social attitudes survey...

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

8

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

9

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….

11

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

14

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?

19

Attitudes to welfare recipients

4.

20

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.

21

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

22

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

23

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.

24

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

25

How should the welfare system be improved?

5.

26

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

27

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

28

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

29

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.

30

If you want further information or would like to contact the author,

Liz Clery

Research Director

T. 020 7549 7071

E. liz.clery@natcen.ac.uk

Visit us online, www.natcen.ac.uk

Thank you