Human dignity and welfare systems

Pro-'workfare' governments justify their policies by claiming 'workfare' helps enhance self-esteem and promotes the dignity of unemployed recipients. On the other hand, welfare activists argue that 'workfare' suppresses the dignity of unemployed persons. This book examines the concept of human dignity in this context and attempts to clarify its meaning. Human Dignity and Welfare Systems provides a framework for evaluating the dignity of welfare recipients and uses this framework to explore the dignity of unemployed persons in four different welfare systems: UK, Sweden, China and Hong Kong. It compares the conditions of human dignity in each case and identifies factors which enhance or suppress it.