Rethinking the case for national pensions with a careful look at pauper statistics.
This study examines how figures about old age relief have been used to argue for or against a state pension system. It questions the reliability of certain tests and offers a critical view of how poverty data is interpreted.
The book digs into the methods behind raised claims about pauperism, showing how administrative practices and selective data can skew conclusions. It presents alternative calculations and discusses historical critique from a key Poor Law commission, helping readers assess a major social policy debate of the era.
- Clear explanation of the premises used to argue for national pensions.
- Critical analysis of statistical methods and their impact on policy ideas.
- Historical context on the Poor Law and how relief patterns influence numbers.
- Discussion of how different groups are represented in the statistics and what that means for reform.
Ideal for readers interested in social policy history, public welfare debates, and how data shapes pension proposals.