Positive Discrimination and the Distribution of Deprivations

Abstract

All social welfare systems face a fundamental dilemma in allocating resources. Should the service be universal and go to everyone as with primary education, or should it be selective and go only to those in greatest need as with supplementary benefits? In practice, welfare systems combine both universal and selective elements. Attempts have recently been made to implement another form of resource allocation which might embody the main advantage of selectivity—concentrating resources where they are most needed—without the disadvantage of means-testing and limited take-up. This is the policy of positive discrimination in favour of deprived areas. An element of positive discrimination has existed for a long time in the rate support grant paid to local authorities, in aspects of regional employment policies, and in slum clearance programmes. However, the Educational Priority Area Programme (EPA) and the subsequent Urban Programme represent new departures, in that the areas (actually schools in the case of EPA) chosen are much smaller than local authorities, and it is assumed that in these areas are concentrated populations who suffer acute and multiple environmental and cultural handicaps.