Neil Gilbert is Chernin Professor of Social Welfare at Berkeley Social Welfare. He served as a Senior Research Fellow at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development was twice awarded Fulbright Fellowships and served as a Visiting Scholar at the International Social Security Association, where he was a member of the Advisory Board on Social Security Research.
What is a progressive? That's the question that must be answered before one can begin to understand this study of income inequality and the welfare state. Included is understanding the difference between 'liberal' and 'progressive.' 'Liberal' is a set of ideals, and a liberal advocates using government spending and taxation to bring about equality, an example being progressive taxation. 'Progressivism' is a problem-solving method, advocating changes in social, political, and economic policies. Not to be omitted is a definition of 'conservative, ' a set of ideals advocating reduction in the size and role of government. 'Progressive conservatism, ' advocated by Gilbert, is the combination of both of these concepts. He proposes replacing all the social transfer programs, which have income-tested benefits, into a single payment with a uniform level of eligibility that narrows the band of income to which it applies. <p/>-- CHOICE