| Abstract: | This paper reviews the evidence which suggests that the coercive aspects of UK unemployment and social security policies have not been implemented as rigorously as policy statements and commentators have implied. The analysis explores the tension between policing benefits and the duty to provide genuine assistance to job seekers. It suggests that policy ambiguity leads to the exercise of informal discretion, which in turn facilitates the non-implementation of the least favoured policy objectives. The introduction of managerialist practices does not appear to have had a beneficial effect on the administration of active labour market policies, in terms of either achieving policy objectives or providing a better service for unemployed people. Rather, it would appear that the additional stresses imposed on staff by resource constraints, work intensification and the pressure to meet performance targets have led to a lowering of morale which cannot help but be reflected in the standard of service available to the unemployed. |
