Paul Spicker 
Reclaiming Individualism [PDF ebook] 
Perspectives on Public Policy

Introduction: Six impossible things before breakfast;

Part 1: Individualism;

Individualism;

Individualism and collectivism;

Part 2: The moral dimensions of individualism;

Individual value and individual rights;

Autonomy and self-determination;

Personal responsibility;

Possessive individualism;

Individual welfare;

Part 3: Methodological individualism and rational self-interest;

Utility and choice;

Self interest;

Rationality;

The Pareto principle;

Part 4: Substantive policy;

Choice and the market;

More of the market: one solution for everything;

Personalised services;

The individualisation of social policy;

Part 5: Individuals and collective action;

Individual and social choices;

Collective action;

Solidarity and voluntary collective action;

Public services;

Part 6: Government and public policy;

The individual versus the state;

The role of government;

The moral agenda;

Social policy and the individual.

Paul Spicker is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. His research has included studies of poverty, need, disadvantage and service delivery. His books on social policy for Policy Press have discussed poverty, social security and the theory of social policy, and include a leading textbook, ‘Social Policy: Theory and Practice’.