Five types of complexity.

Spicker, Paul

Abstract

This article describes five types of complexity in the operation of social security benefits. The first is intrinsic complexity: some benefits are complex in their concept, structure or operation. The second is extrinsic: systems become complicated when several benefits or agencies have to be dealt with. Third, there are complex rules. Some are imposed for administrative reasons, but there may also be some 'conditionality', including moral conditions and rules about rationing. Fourth, there are complex management systems, including the proliferation of agencies and the problems of information management. Finally, there is complexity that arises through the situation of claimants. Benefits which try to adjust to people's changing circumstances require elaborate rules and procedures, and they are always slightly out of step. If we want to simplify benefits, we need to focus on conditionality, administrative rules and management procedures. Some aspects of complexity, however, are unavoidable.

Citation

SPICKER, P. 2005. Five types of complexity. Benefits, 13(1), pages 5-9.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 28, 2005
• Online Publication Date: Feb 28, 2005
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2005
• Deposit Date: Sep 9, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 9, 2013
• Journal: Benefits
• Print ISSN: 0962-7898
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-7325
• Publisher: Policy Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 5-9
• Keywords: Social security benefits; Agencies; Complex systems; Claimants
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/853
• Publisher URL: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/tpp/ben/2005/00000013/00000001/art00002