The UK social security system for self-employed people

Rebecca Boden

Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Labor Market Policy and Employment from WZB Berlin Social Science Center

Abstract: The UK system for social insurance has evolved over the past sixty years in response to both changes in government policy and changing social circumstances. The current system has moved away somewhat from the old Welfare State principles. The current social insurance system in the UK is targeted at supporting people in work to make 'work pay', is largely non-universal, emphasises personal provision (especially in areas such as old age pensions) and is means-tested. Self-employed people form a significant part of the UK labour force, perhaps largely as a result of government policy that has encouraged such a restructuring of the labour market. Self-employed people in the UK are an extremely heterogeneous group and also exhibit important differences in characteristics compared with employees. Self-employed people are more likely to be less well off financially and to be older than employees.

Date: 2005
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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