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A Most Neoliberal Encounter: When Covid-19 Met the British Welfare State

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  • Clémence Fourton

Abstract

This article explores how the British welfare state was mobilized in the United Kingdom’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the context of neoliberal capitalism. This response was conditioned by neoliberal dynamics that had previously shaped the British welfare state, with low investment in healthcare as a case study. The crisis response itself reproduced and amplified neoliberal dynamics, such as poorly accountable contracting out in healthcare. The pandemic context allowed some of these dynamics to be made more visible to the general public, and therefore more questionable, although, as is shown with the example of the benefit system, no overhaul of the system ensued. Ultimately, the Covid-19 pandemic has not been a game changer for the British neoliberal welfare state. JEL Classification : P1, I1

Suggested Citation

  • Clémence Fourton, 2025. "A Most Neoliberal Encounter: When Covid-19 Met the British Welfare State," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 57(1), pages 58-72, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:57:y:2025:i:1:p:58-72
    DOI: 10.1177/04866134241282367
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Blyth, Mark, 2015. "Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199389445.
    2. Colin Crouch, 2022. "Reflections on the COVID moment and life beyond neoliberalism," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 28(1), pages 31-45, February.
    3. Paul T. de Beer & Maarten Keune, 2022. "COVID-19: a prelude to a revaluation of the public sector?," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 28(1), pages 135-140, February.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • P1 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health

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