One of a series of papers prepared in the context of our second 'conversation', funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), on issues related to possible constitutional change in Scotland.
Paper that asks a number of questions - how to move beyond the limitations imposed by mainstream economic theorising in informing the nature, scope and evaluation of public policy interventions and in the process develop a more inclusive and realistic understanding of state welfare arrangements; how to reshape social security provision in accordance with an overall goal to promote equality; And whether it is desirable to do so in the current economic and political environment?