Richard Titmuss on social cohesion: a comment

Abstract

In this comment on Reisman's article on Richard Titmuss, it is argued that his thesis—that too much commercialism undermines the social bond—remains especially relevant in the context of the growing commercialisation of social services in Western societies. In particular, in advocating ‘socialist’ social policies, which encouraged the sense of community and therefore favoured positive externalities while curbing negative ones, Titmuss reminds economists of the significance of the gift relationship among the coordinating mechanisms that assure social cohesion.