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Trust and Welfare State Reform: the example of the NHS

Taylor-Gooby, Peter (2008) Trust and Welfare State Reform: the example of the NHS. Social Policy & Administration, 42 (3). pp. 288-306. ISSN 0144-5596. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-9515.2007.00592.x) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:3198)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9515.2007.00592.x

Abstract

This article discusses the impact of New Public Management on public trust in welfare state institutions, using the example of NHS reform. Discussion of trust in public institutions across political science, psychology and sociology indicates that it is based on both rational/objective considerations (competence and capacity to deliver the service) and affectual/subjective factors (shared values, belief that the trustee shares the trustor's interests). The New Public Management foregrounds individual responsibility and incentives for both suppliers and users of services, in the NHS example in quasi-markets, management by target and patient choice. These accord with an individualized market rational-actor model rather than with affective considerations. Analysis of attitude survey data on the NHS confirms that rational/objective and affectual/subjective factors contribute to public trust in this field. However, a comparison between perceptions in England, where the internal market has been vigorously pursued, and Scotland, where the purchaser/provider split was discarded after devolution, indicate that the market does not offer a royal road to perceptions of superior quality in the objective factors. Conversely, the more market-centred system can make progress in relation to the more subjective affectual factors.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2007.00592.x
Projects: SCARR Risk Network
Uncontrolled keywords: trust; welfare state; restructuring; new public management; health services
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council (https://ror.org/03n0ht308)
Depositing User: Peter Taylor-Gooby
Date Deposited: 05 Jun 2008 13:28 UTC
Last Modified: 12 Jul 2022 10:38 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/3198 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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