New Books in Economic and Business History Steven King, "Fraudulent Lives: Imagining Welfare Cheats from the Poor Law to the Present" (McGill Queen's UP, 2024)
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Jan 19, 2025 Steven King, a distinguished professor of economic and social history at Nottingham Trent University and author of "Fraudulent Lives," dives into the deep-seated perceptions of welfare cheats in his latest work. He reveals how the 1601 British Poor Law baked dishonesty into welfare assumptions. King discusses the enduring myths of welfare fraud, the gap between public perception and reality, and the historical consistencies in attitudes toward fraud. The conversation highlights the implications for current welfare policies and sheds light on possible improvements.
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King's Father Accused
- Stephen King's father, also a professor, was wrongly accused of welfare fraud.
- The investigators were intimidated by King's knowledge of welfare rules.
1601 Law's Legacy
- The 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law's principles about welfare and fraud still influence today's system.
- These principles are embedded in the "DNA" of welfare and should be acknowledged by politicians.
Public Perception vs. Reality
- Public perception consistently overestimates welfare fraud, believing 30-40% of funds are lost.
- This contrasts sharply with government figures of 2-5%, a disparity consistent across centuries.