The project What does a ‘good’ digital welfare state look like? brought together UK and Scandinavian experts on the digital welfare state, together with community groups in the UK to capture the values underlying existing provision, and propose new frameworks for ‘good’ digital welfare.
In this policy briefing, Becky Faith and Kevin Hernandez discuss the ethical, social, and political implications of digital welfare from the perspectives of the poorest and most marginalised members of our societies. It sets out how systems need changes should be underpinned by a commitment to ensuring that the broader digital welfare ecosystem works to deliver entitlements to those in need with dignity and respect.
Abstract
The introduction of ‘digital-by-default’ welfare and social protection systems in the UK and beyond has delivered efficiencies and cost savings for governments and can be convenient for recipients. But, given the rapid pace of change, we need to understand the ethical, social, and political implications of digital welfare from the perspectives of the poorest and most marginalised members of our societies. In the face of a growing body of research on these communities’ challenges in accessing their entitlements, this briefing looks at what a ‘good’ digital welfare state might look like. Our research shows the need for systems which are designed to treat people with care and dignity, inclusivity, adaptiveness, and transparency. Digital welfare systems need to work for the hardest to reach first. In the words of a workshop participant: ‘a good service makes you feel trust in the service itself, the platform, and the government’.
How to cite the paper
Faith, B. and Hernandez, K. (2024) ‘What Does a Good Digital Welfare State Look Like?’, IDS Policy Briefing 217, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, https://doi.org/10.19088/IDS.2024.047
