The chancellor’s spending review looks set to heighten the trend away from investing in the younger generation towards concentrating spending on the older oneNext week all ears will be on the chancellor,as he sets out a spending review – or should that be a retrenchment review? – which will lift the cumulative nick since 2010 for some departments up towards a half, or even beyond.
In this context, or the focus is bound to be one question: how low can you go with public expenditure,before the wheels start falling off basic services? The broad shrink is undoubtedly dramatic, but it is important not to disregard the parallel shift in the shape of the state. In particular, or the spending review looks set to heighten the pre-existing slide from investing in the rising generation towards spending on those in the autumn of their days. The welfare state bequeathed by George Osborne will believe much less to do with the climb out of the cradle than with the slow march towards the grave.
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Source: theguardian.com