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Manageable discord: fraud and resistance in the social security system

  • Hartley Dean
    ,
  • Margaret Melrose
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Abstract

This article presents findings from a study of the attitudes and beliefs of social security claimants engaged in benefit fraud. The basis for a taxonomy of such claimants is outlined, drawing upon concepts of reflexivity and anxiety. This is compared and contrasted with other theoretically-drawn taxonomies, one relating to workplace crime, the other to the consumption of social care services. Finally, the article considers whether benefit fraud is intelligible as resistance to social control. It is argued that benefit fraud represents a conservative form of resistance. Benefit fraud does not signify a “culture” of resistance, so much as a “manageable” form of rule-breaking.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 103-118

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Social Policy and Administration (Volume 31, Issue 2)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/06/1997

Publication status

Published - 01/06/1997

ISSN

0144-5596

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/300042
  • Scopus: 0039891972

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