The Concept of the Mixed Economy of Welfare

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The voluntary sector is the effort of the mixture between the market, the state and volunteers in order to provide social inclusion through a myriad of social activities and involvements to those in need (Kendall, 2008:212). Titmuss (1970) believed the voluntary sector played an important role in society, allowing people to be altruistic. This sector finds a gap in the welfare system and attempts to supply welfare to those who would fail to receive it otherwise. Gerard (1983) states that charities in the voluntary cover a huge variety of aspects including education, health and disablement, youth work and recreation and social rehabilitation. We can therefore conclude that an overwhelming amount of people rely on voluntary movements to meet their basic needs. Maslow (1943) illustrates how food and shelter are essential needs. Such needs are often met by voluntary sectors with help from their welfare state. If the voluntary sector was to end its vast range of services, this would lead to a shift in where we avail of this welfare. Spicker (1995:111) argues that if any welfare sector fails in providing necessary welfare, the state should take necessary action through financial aid and policies in order to bolster this sector in its recovery. According to Reisman (2001:159), the diswelfare and social cost would fall on the external party (the welfare state and the recipients of the welfare state). While it’s evident there may be effects on public sector services, the state should still carefully consider their involvement in providing financial aid to the voluntary sector to provide welfare.

The essay concludes that not only is the state the largest welfare provider in Ireland but that it is also clear that the state plays a vital role in providing policies, financial aid, regulations and planning to the private, public and voluntary sector ensuring the proper provision of welfare to those in need. This essay also argues how the mixed economies should idealistically work together to deliver welfare.

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