Author: Social Policy Blog

Visible but Precarious: How Digital Platforms Reshape Migrant Care Work

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A smartphone displaying a care worker's profile page, with a verification badge and blank name and detail fields.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of Social Policy by Mert Koçak and Elifcan Çelebi. Finding someone to care for a child, an older relative, or a sick family member is increasingly difficult, and digital platforms have stepped into this care gap. Families scroll through profiles, compare experience and… Continue reading Visible but Precarious: How Digital Platforms Reshape Migrant Care Work

Who pays for unpaid care? The financial costs that can last a lifetime

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An hourglass with sand running through it, flanked by two stacks of gold coins.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of Social Policy by Louise Overton and Maxine Watkins. Every day, millions of unpaid carers help sustain Britain’s health and social care system, often at the expense of their own long-term financial security. Too often, discussions about unpaid care focus only on today’s… Continue reading Who pays for unpaid care? The financial costs that can last a lifetime

What Made Emergency Cash Transfers Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

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Illustration of a smartphone displaying a bank icon, surrounded by a bank card, a coin, an envelope containing a banknote and a rising arrow.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy by Nelson D. Cardozo. The COVID-19 pandemic represented an unprecedented global crisis, affecting not only the health of millions of people but also the economic, social and political stability of countries. Governments adopted various strategies to mitigate… Continue reading What Made Emergency Cash Transfers Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

What Is the Purpose of Welfare in a State That Does Not Levy Taxes?

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Illustration of three figures each rated with a different number of stars, symbolising the tiered hierarchy of entitlement in Qatar's welfare system between citizens, permanent residents, and temporary migrant workers.

This blog post is based on an article published in Social Policy and Society by Anis Ben Brik. The welfare system in Qatar is generous as citizens receive free healthcare, education, subsidised housing, and secure public sector jobs without paying taxes. Unlike the European model, where citizens contribute through taxes and the state manages labour… Continue reading What Is the Purpose of Welfare in a State That Does Not Levy Taxes?