Administering economic reform: New Labour and the governance of social security

This article argues that the introduction of new governance and performance frameworks for social security administration stems from Labour's adoption of an endogenous growth economic model. The institutional structure for administering employment and social security that Labour inherited in 1997 was not suitable to support its socioeconomic objectives. The creation of Jobcentre Plus and the Department for Work and Pensions and the reorientation of their performance objectives were the response. These were informed by the endogenous growth-inspired policies that (implicitly and explicitly) underpin Labour's claim to be pursuing a Third Way.