Work and welfare : the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations and the unemployment problem, 1919-1936
This thesis examines the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations (N.C.E.O.), and its attitude towards the unemployment problem between the Wars. Chapter 1 deals with the origins and the development of the Confederation. Founded in 1919, the N.C.E.O. specialised in employers' labour and social interests, and on both subjects, it emerged as a recognised political force. For the Confederation, however, unemployment provided a meeting place for the politics of work and the politics of social welfare. Chapter 2 examines the N.C.E.O.'s attitude towards the prevention and reduction of unemployment between the Wars. Although it was prepared initially to collaborate with the Government and the trade unions in backing direct measures to tackle unemployment, the N.C.E.O. eventually lost interest. From 1925 until the mid 1930's it argued that unemployment was mainly a function of a rigid wage structure and high standards of State social welfare. In particular, it directed criticism against Government spending on the maintenance of the unemployed. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with the N.C.E.O.'s attitude towards the unemployment insurance scheme during the 1920's. The Confederation wanted a low-benefit, low-cost scheme,
Rodgers, Terence
National Confederation of Employers' Organisations ; unemployment ; social welfare
Work and welfare : the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations and the unemployment problem, 1919-1936. This thesis examines the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations (N.C.E.O.), and its attitude towards the unemployment problem between the Wars. Chapter 1 deals with the origins and the development of the Confederation. Founded in 1919, the N.C.E.O. specialised in employers' labour and social interests, and on both subjects, it emerged as a recognised political force. For the Confederation, however, unemployment provided a meeting place for the politics of work and the politics of social welfare. Chapter 2 examines the N.C.E.O.'s attitude towards the prevention and reduction of unemployment between the Wars. Although it was prepared initially to collaborate with the Government and the trade unions in backing direct measures to tackle unemployment, the N.C.E.O. eventually lost interest. From 1925 until the mid 1930's it argued that unemployment was mainly a function of a rigid wage structure and high standards of State social welfare. In particular, it directed criticism against Government spending on the maintenance of the unemployed. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with the N.C.E.O.'s attitude towards the unemployment insurance scheme during the 1920's. The Confederation wanted a low-benefit, low-cost scheme,
work welfare national confederation unemployment problem examines national confederation attitude_towards unemployment problem wars deal origin_development confederation founded specialise employer labour social interest subject emerge recognise political force confederation however unemployment provide meeting place politics work politics social_welfare examines attitude_towards prevention reduction unemployment wars although prepare initially collaborate government trade_union back direct measure tackle unemployment eventually lose interest argued unemployment mainly function rigid wage structure high standard state social_welfare particular direct criticism government spending maintenance unemployed deal attitude_towards unemployment insurance scheme confederation want low benefit low_cost scheme