APPG event
Tackling growth dependency in the welfare system—The case of adult social care
Online, 13 July 2021, 3-4.30pm
Why does adult social care appear so unaffordable? What drives the dependency of the welfare state on economic growth? How can we sustain the welfare state in the context of declining growth?
Join us and the APPG on the Limits to Growth for the launch of a new policy briefing on tackling growth dependency in the welfare system—the case of adult social care.
Drawing on in-depth interviews with economists, policymakers and practitioners in social care and other parts of the welfare system, we will discuss a new paper in our An Economy That Works series for parliamentarians , looking specifically at adult social care.
The webinar will bring together parliamentarians, social care experts and economists to examine the causes and implications of growth dependency in the welfare system and to explore policy levers that could support a shift to a thriving and sustainable social care sector in the presence of low or zero growth rates.
The briefing comes at a critical moment, with the UK Government committed to bringing forward proposals to improve the adult social care system this year. Eighty-four percent of England’s care home beds are managed by private companies, and three of the five largest care home companies are owned by investment firms. This places adult social care in an exposed position, vulnerable to profiteering and predatory financial practices.
Speakers
The event will be chaired by Caroline Lucas MP, chair of the APPG on Limits to Growth. Confirmed speakers are:
- Prof Emma Dowling, Sociologist and political scientist, University of Vienna, author of The Care Crisis What Caused It and How Can We End It?
- Prof Hermann Ott, Head of German Office, ClientEarth, former member of the Bundestag, and member of the German Parliamentary Study Commission on “Growth, Prosperity, and Quality of Life” where he chaired its working group on the decoupling of resource use from economic prosperity.
- Christine Corlet Walker, Research Fellow, CUSP, lead author of the policy briefing on Adult Social Care: Overcoming Growth Dependency, specialist in health and social care and postgrowth economics.
- Prof Tim Jackson, Director, CUSP, former Economics Commissioner on the UK Sustainable Development Commission, author of Post Growth: Life after Capitalism.
- Further speakers tbc
Background
The basic economic characteristics of adult social care limit the possibilities for labour productivity growth and economies of scale. This makes it difficult to find cost-savings without compromising care quality and wages. Without revenue growth to offset the challenges posed by these dynamics, financial pressures push the sector towards negative outcomes such as stagnating wages and poor-quality care. In short, the sector at present is dependent on economic growth.
The challenges posed by growth dependency of the welfare system extend beyond adult social care and are likely to become more pressing in the coming years.
The project is part of the APPG’s ongoing work making the case for Government to develop a ‘precautionary’ post-growth approach and is funded by the Laudes Foundation’s contribution to the APPG’s work this year.
WHERE
Online
WHEN
Tuesday, 13 July 2021
3–4.30pm
CONTACT
The event is hosted with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Limits to Growth and open to the public. Please register your attendance via Eventbrite to receive updates and joining details. For enquiries, please email events@cusp.ac.uk.
