This collection of essays from the ESRC Centre for Research on Socio Cultural Change advocates for a revival of elite studies in social sciences. It explores the role of elites in contemporary capitalism, their significance as agents, and the impact of financialization, using diverse empirical studies and methodologies across multiple countries.
Focusing on the UK's cost of living crisis, the book introduces the concept of liveability as a solution. It emphasizes the importance of enhancing foundational services and social infrastructure over merely increasing wages. By addressing these core aspects, it proposes a way to rebuild and improve overall quality of life for individuals and communities.
Focusing on the evolution of social policy, this collection of essays critiques the English poor law and social investigation texts from 1800 to 1914. It challenges conventional narratives surrounding pauperism and poverty, offering fresh interpretations of key historical texts by figures like Mayhew and Engels. A significant finding reveals that unemployment relief for men was largely eliminated post-1850. The essays stimulate broader discussions on historical writing and alternative analyses of social issues, revising established understandings of poverty relief.
What caused the UK's cost of living crisis, and how can we rebuild? Setting out the concept of liveability, this book argues that rather than focus on increasing wages, we need to make life more liveable through foundational services and social infrastructure. -- .