Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c47g7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T10:28:14.272Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The ‘Deserving’ Rich? Inequality, Morality and Social Policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2010

KAREN ROWLINGSON  and
STUART CONNOR
KAREN ROWLINGSON*
Affiliation:
Institute of Applied Social Studies, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT
STUART CONNOR
Affiliation:
Institute of Applied Social Studies, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT
*
email: k.rowlingson@bham.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

There is a long tradition in social policy of discussing and critiquing the notion of ‘deservingness’ in relation to ‘the poor’. This paper will apply such debates to ‘the rich’ to consider the grounds on which this group might be considered ‘deserving’. The paper identifies three sets of arguments. The first set of arguments concerns the appropriateness of rewarding merit/hard work/effort/risk-taking etc. The second concerns more consequentialist/economic arguments about providing incentives for wealth creation. And the third considers the character and behaviour of the rich. As well as discussing the potential criteria for deservingness, the paper will also debate whether the degree of income and wealth gained by the rich is deserved. Finally, the paper will discuss the social policy implications, including taxation policies, which emerge from this debate.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 40 , Issue 3 , July 2011 , pp. 437 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ackerman, B. and Alstott, A. (1999), The Stakeholder Society, New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Atkinson, A. (1971), ‘The distribution of wealth and the individual lifecycle’, Oxford Economic Papers, 23, Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Banks, J. and Tanner, S. (1997), The State of Donation, London: IFS.Google Scholar
Begum, N. (2004), Analysis in brief – The Labour Force Survey: Employment by Occupation and Industry, London: Office for National Statistics.Google Scholar
Bamfield, L. and Horton, T. (2009), Understanding Attitudes to Tackling Economic Inequality, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Breeze, B. (2006), Robin Hood in Reverse: Exploring the Relationship between Income and Charitable Giving, Voluntary Sector Working Paper No. 3, London: London School of Economics.Google Scholar
Breeze, B. (2009), The Coutts Million Pound Donors Report 2009, Coutts/University of Kent.Google Scholar
Brewer, M. and Browne, J. (2009), ‘Can more revenue be raised by increasing income tax rates for the very rich?’, IFS briefing note 84, IFS, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bromley, C. (2003), ‘Has Britain become immune to inequality?’, in Park, A., Curtice, J., Thomson, K., Jarvis, L. and Bromley, C. (eds.), British Social Attitudes 20th Report, London: Sage.Google Scholar
CASE and HM Treasury (1999), Persistent Poverty and Lifetime Inequality: The Evidence, CASE paper 5, London: LSE.Google Scholar
Cook, F. (1979), Who Should be Helped: Public Support for Social Services, Beverley Hills, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Cook, D. (1989), Rich Law, Poor Law, Milton Keynes: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Corry, D. and Glyn, A. (1994), ‘The macro-economics of equality, stability and growth’, in Glyn, A. and Milliband, E. (eds.), Paying for Inequality: The Economic Costs of Social Justice, London: IPPR.Google Scholar
Daunton, M. (2007), Wealth and Welfare: An Economic and Social History 1851–1951, Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dean, H. with Melrose, M. (1999), Poverty, Riches and Social Citizenship, Basingstoke: Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeSwaan, A. (1988), In Care of the State, Amsterdam: Bakker.Google Scholar
Deutsch, M. (1985), Distributive Justice, New Haven: Yale University.Google Scholar
Fitzpatrick, T. (2008), Applied Ethics and Social Problems: Moral Questions of Birth, Society and Death, Bristol: The Policy Press.Google Scholar
Guardian (2009a), ‘MG Rover: how the Phoenix Four hit the jackpot’, 11 September 2009.Google Scholar
Guardian (2009b), ‘Switzerland life tempts high-end taxpayers after Darling's budget’, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/24/income-tax-rise, 24 April 2009.Google Scholar
Guardian (2009c), ‘City bankers on course for £7bn in bonuses’, 30 April 2009.Google Scholar
Guardian (2010a), ‘Fears of mass UK banking exodus prove unfounded’, 18 February 2010.Google Scholar
Guardian (2010b), ‘David Cameron: public sector chiefs will be forced to take pay cut’, 8 April, http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/apr/08/david-cameron-public-sector-payGoogle Scholar
Harbury, C. and Hitchens, D. (1979), Inheritance and Wealth Inequality in Britain, London: George Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Health and Safety Executive (2009a), ‘Work related injuries and ill health in construction’, http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/construction/index.htm, accessed 2 June 2009.Google Scholar
Health and Safety Executive (2009b), ‘Work related injuries and ill health in health and social work’, http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/healthservices/index.htm, accessed 2 June 2009.Google Scholar
Henman, P. and Marston, G. (2008), ‘The social division of welfare surveillance’, Journal of Social Policy, 37: 187–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Higginson, R. and Clough, D. (2010), The Ethics of Executive Remuneration: A Guide for Christian Investors, Church Investors’ Group, http://www.churchinvestorsgroup.org.uk/~churchin/system/files/Ethics_of_executive_remuneration_V2_09A.pdfGoogle Scholar
Hills, J. (2004), Inequality and the State, Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hills, J., Sefton, T. and Stewart, K. (2009), Towards a More Equal Society, Bristol: The Policy Press.Google Scholar
Hobcraft, J. (1998), Intergenerational and Life-course Transmission of Social Exclusion, CASE paper 15, London: LSE.Google Scholar
Income Data Services (2006), ‘Executive compensation review’.Google Scholar
Income Data Services (2009a), ‘Pay increases for FTSE – 100 NEDs averaged 15% increase in 2008’, Press release, February 13.Google Scholar
Income Data Services (2009b), ‘FTSE directors’ earnings defy gravity’, Press release, January.Google Scholar
Independent (2006), ‘£676,000: the average salary of a Premiership footballer in 2006’, 11 April 2006.Google Scholar
International Labour Organisation (2008), World of Work: Income Inequalities in the Age of Financial Globalization, Geneva: ILO.Google Scholar
Irvin, G. (2008), Super Rich, Cambridge: Polity Press.Google Scholar
Irvin, G., Byrne, D., Murphy, R., Reed, H. and Ruane, S. (2009), In Place of Cuts: Tax Reform to Build a Fairer Society, London: Compass.Google Scholar
Isles, N. (2003), Life at the Top: The Labour Market for FTSE-250 Chief Executives? London: The Work FoundationGoogle Scholar
Johnson, P. and Reed, H. (1996), Two Nations? The Inheritance of Poverty and Affluence, London: IFS.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kodz, J., Davis, S., Lain, D., Strebler, M., Rick, J., Bates, P., Cummings, J. and Meager, N. (2003), Working Long Hours: A Review of the Evidence: Volume 1 – Main Report, Employment Relations Research Series ERRS16, Department of Trade and Industry.Google Scholar
Lansley, S. (2006), Rich Britain: The Rise and Rise of the New Super-Wealthy, London: Politico's.Google Scholar
Le Grand, J. (1982), The Strategy of Equality, London: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Mann, K. (2001), Approaching Retirement, Bristol: The Policy Press.Google Scholar
Marmot, M. (2004), Status Syndrome – How Your Social Standing Directly Affects Your Health and Life Expectancy, London: Bloomsbury & Henry Holt.Google Scholar
Menchik, P. (1979), ‘Intergeneration transmission of inequality: an empirical study of wealth mobility’, Economica, 46: 349–362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, D. (1992), ‘Distributive justice: what the people think’, Ethics, 102: 3, 555–593.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mitchell, A. and Sikka, P. (2005), Taming the Corporation, London: Association for Accountancy & Business Affairs.Google Scholar
National Audit Office (2009), The Efficiency of Radio Production at the BBC, London: NAO, http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0809/bbc_radio_production.aspxGoogle Scholar
National Equality Panel (2010), An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK, London: Government Equalities Office.Google Scholar
Nissan, D. and Le Grand, J. (2000), A Capital Idea: Start-up Grants for Young People, London: The Fabian Society.Google Scholar
Orton, M. (2008), ‘State approaches to wealth’, in Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (eds.), Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth, Bristol: The Policy Press.Google Scholar
Orton, M. and Rowlingson, K. (2007a), ‘A problem of riches: towards a new social policy research agenda on the distribution of economic resources’, Journal of Social Policy, 36: 1, 59–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orton, M. and Rowlingson, K. (2007b), Public Attitudes to Inequality, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Panel on Fair Access to the Professions (2009), Unleashing Aspiration, London: The Cabinet Office, http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/227105/fair-access-summary.pdfGoogle Scholar
Populus (2009), ‘Post budget poll’, 22 April, http://www.populuslimited.com/postbudget-poll-april-2009-220409.htmlGoogle Scholar
Prabhakar, R., Rowlingson, K. and White, S. (2008), How to Defend Inheritance Tax, London: Fabian Society.Google Scholar
Ramsay, M. (2005), ‘A modest proposal: the case for a maximum wage’, Contemporary Politics, 11: 4, 201–215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rawls, J. (1971), A Theory of Justice, Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roemer, J. E. (1998), Theories of Distributive Justice, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Rowlingson, K. (2008), ‘Wealth’, in Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (eds.), Understanding Poverty, Income and Wealth, Bristol: The Policy Press.Google Scholar
Scott, J. (1994), Poverty and Wealth: Citizenship, Deprivation and Privilege, Longman: Harlow.Google Scholar
Scott, J. T., Matland, R. E., Michelbach, P. A. and Bornstein, B. H. (2001), ‘Just deserts: an experimental study of distributive justice norms’, American Journal of Political Science, 45: 4, 749–767.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simpson, G. and Connor, S. (2011), Social Policy for Social Welfare Professionals, Bristol: The Policy Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sunday Times (2009), ‘Football stars plan to dodge 50p tax rate’, 31 May 2009, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article6395778.eceGoogle Scholar
Taylor-Gooby, P. and Martin, R. (2008), ‘Trends in sympathy for the poor’, in Park, A., Curtice, J., Thomson, K., Phillips, M., Johnson, M. and Clery, E. (2008), British Social Attitudes: The 24th Report, London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Titmuss, R. (1958), Essays on the Welfare State, London: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Townsend, P. (1990), ‘Underclass and overclass: the widening gulf between social classes in Britain in the 1980s’, in Payne, G. and Cross, M. (eds.), Sociology in Action, London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Treasury Select Committee (2009a), Banking Crisis: Dealing with the Failure of the UK Banks, London: TSO, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmtreasy/416/416.pdfGoogle Scholar
Treasury Select Committee (2009b), Banking Crisis: Reforming Corporate Governance and Pay in the City, London: TSO, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmtreasy/519/519.pdfGoogle Scholar
Van Oorschott, W. (2000), ‘Who should get what, and why? On deservingness criteria and the conditionality of solidarity among the public’, Policy and Politics, 28: 1, 33–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, D. (2009), A Review of Corporate Governance in UK Banks and other Financial Industry Entities, London: HM Treasury.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, R. and Pickett, K. (2009), The Spirit Level, London: Allen Lane.Google Scholar
Wilhelm, M. (1996), ‘Bequest behaviour and the effect of heirs’ earnings: testing the altruistic model of bequests’, American Economic Review, 86: 874–892.Google Scholar
Will, J. (1993), ‘The dimensions of poverty: public perceptions of the deserving poor’, Social Science Research, 22: 312–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, M. (1958), The Rise of the Meritocracy, London: Thames & Hudson.Google Scholar