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Local education and social care in England, Scotland, and Wales: spending patterns, priorities, and prospects

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  • Rhys Andrews

Abstract

This paper explores the changing nature of the local welfare state in England, Scotland, and Wales. The potential impact of policy changes within the three countries is modelled by comparing local authority spending on education, children’s social care, and adult social care in each country. Panel-based regression analysis for the period 2009–22 suggests that policy divergence has led to substantial variations in locally-managed education and social care spending across England, Scotland, and Wales, even when controlling for other relevant local influences on expenditure. In particular, the growth of academy schools in England appears to have led to a substantial drop in locally-managed education spending, while the right to free social care for over 65s in Scotland seems to be associated with more local spending on adult social care. The paper concludes by discussing the future of the local welfare state in the devolved United Kingdom.

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  • Rhys Andrews, 2025. "Local education and social care in England, Scotland, and Wales: spending patterns, priorities, and prospects," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 41(1), pages 41-63.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxford:v:41:y:2025:i:1:p:41-63.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/oxrep/graf002
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