Formulating the Matthew Principle: on the role of the middle classes in the welfare state |
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Authors: | J. Gal |
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Affiliation: | Baerwald School of Social Work, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel |
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Abstract: | The Matthew Principle, which formulates the role of the middle classes in the welfare state, is discussed in this article. The middle classes are described as primary beneficiaries of the welfare state. This status is achieved through the ability of this social group to influence the policy-formulating process by way of six different channels of influence. It is also facilitated due to the impact of middle-class clients upon the implementation stage of social policy. A case study of employment policy in Israel illustrates the workings of different aspects of the Matthew Principle. |
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Keywords: | middle classes welfare state social policy bureaucracy Israel employment policy |
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