Complexity in the law and administration of social security: is it really a problem?

Abstract

This article analyses the problem of complexity in relation to the law and structure of the modern welfare (social security) system and its impact on administration, which has represented a significant driver for simplification reforms in the UK. The article outlines diverse conceptual and methodological approaches to the definition of complexity. It argues that despite the difficulties which complexity presents, attention should also be paid to the dangers of simplification and that a degree of complexity in relation to social security provision may be necessary if rights to welfare are to be adequately safeguarded.

Keywords::

• social security/welfare
• law and administration
• complexity
• simplification
• rights

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to the anonymous referees for their helpful comments. An earlier version of this paper was prepared for the AIPDA (Italian Association of Professors of Administrative Law) conference in Naples, October 2014.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded in part by the Leverhulme Trust [a Research Fellowship award: RF-2011-024].