Policy Press Welfare and well-being: Social value in public policy

In this original book Bill Jordan presents a new analysis of well-being in terms of its social value, and outlines ways in which this could be incorporated into public policy decisions. Review An essential read for those who care about forming a rational public policy that takes into account not only economic incentives, but also personal relationships, environmental surroundings and other non-material aspects of our lives that are too easily dismissed. Amir Paz-Fuchs, Assistant Professor, Ono Academic College, Israel Bill Jordan writes in a lucid and elegant way about the limitations of material conceptions of well-being and of the contract model of welfare. Jordan covers a wide array of material and approaches, all seamlessly woven together to provide an easily accessible but profound insight into the delivery of public services in Britain today. His account of the way marketized social relations become corrosive of civic character is both chilling and timely. Louise Haagh, University of York This is a reasoned yet passionate critique of contract and public choice theory and charts a way forward for a progressive social policy. Professor Ian Gough, Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath This work offers a provocative and compelling critique of economic orthodoxy, which illuminates the growing gap between welfare and well-being in modern society. Challenging conventional ideas about the good life, Jordan's masterful and wide-ranging analysis marshals a powerful call for the reconstruction of social value. Neil Gilbert, Chernin Professor of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley About the Author Bill Jordan is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Plymouth. He has held visiting chairs in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Slovakia and Hungary. He worked for 20 years in the UK social services, and is the author of 27 books on social policy, social theory, politics and social work.