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All Outputs (6)

Poverty as a wicked problem. (2016)
Report
SPICKER, P. 2016. Poverty as a wicked problem. CROP poverty brief, no. 35. Bergen, Norway: CROP Secretariat [online]. Available from: http://www.crop.org/viewfile.aspx?id=1062

This brief argues for a pragmatic approach to poverty, rather than an analytical one: 1. Poverty is a wicked issue - complex, multidimensional, unclear and changeable. There is not one problem to be addressed. If we are not dealing with a set, specif... Read More about Poverty as a wicked problem..

A new future for social security: response to the consultation document. (2016)
Report
SPICKER, P. 2016. A new future for social security: response to the consultation document. In Scottish Government. Consultation on social security in Scotland. Edinburgh: Scottish Government [online], response ID 500312666. Available from: https://consult.gov.scot/social-security/social-security-in-scotland/consultation/view_respondent?_b_index=420&uuId=500312666

This submission covers genearl issues related to the statement of principles, broader issues of policy and general administrative arrangements. The main points are these: 1) The aims of benefit systems are complex. Oversimplification threatens to com... Read More about A new future for social security: response to the consultation document..

Economics as practical wisdom. (2016)
Journal Article
SPICKER, P. 2016. Economics as practical wisdom. Real-world economics review [online], 75, pages 113-125. Available from: http://www.paecon.net/PAEReview/issue75/Spicker75.pdf

The discipline of economics has been represented as deductive and theoretical, deductive and empirical, and inductive and empirical. All of these approaches have been subject to withering criticism in other social sciences: their weaknesses are theor... Read More about Economics as practical wisdom..

The fiscal framework and the delivery of welfare benefits. (2016)
Report
SPICKER, P. 2016. The fiscal framework and the delivery of welfare benefits. Written submission presented at the 10th Meeting of the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee (Scottish Parliament, session 4), 3 March 2016, Edinburgh, UK. Edinburgh: Scottish Parliament [online], pages 19-23. Available from: http://www.parliament.scot/Papers_20160303_updated_3.3.16.pdf

The author author was approached by the Clerks of the committee to comment on the Scotland Bill and Fiscal Framework, since the publication of the Committee's Interim Report published in May 2015. This is his written submission.

What can the Scottish Parliament do with new social security powers? (2016)
Report
SPICKER, P. 2016. What can the Scottish Parliament do with new social security powers? Glasgow: Comon Weal [online]. Available from: http://allofusfirst.org/tasks/render/file/?fileID=5F353C60-ECE3-72D9-CAD3D044ACBB03D0

Professor Paul Spicker analyses the planned devolution of social security powers to the Scottish Parliament in the Scotland Bill and argues: The reforms have been represented as giving Scotland 'one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the wo... Read More about What can the Scottish Parliament do with new social security powers?.

New benefit powers for Scotland. (2016)
Report
SPICKER, P. 2016. New benefit powers for Scotland. Poverty Alliance briefing, 23. Glasgow: The Poverty Alliance [online]. Available from: http://www.povertyalliance.org/article/new_welfare_powers

Pending agreement between the Scottish and UK Governments, and the completion of the relevant Parliamentary processes, Scotland is set to gain significant new powers over aspects of the social security system. In order to help Poverty Alliance member... Read More about New benefit powers for Scotland..