In 1959, the American political scientist Charles E. Lindblom coined the term “muddling through” to describe decision-making processes in liberal-democratic market societies. Lindblom refined his analysis over the years, concluding that markets were the most efficient mechanism for creating and fostering wealth and innovation, but as social democrats have long insisted, less efficient at delivering social or economic justice.

Australia appears to be in the process of muddling through its social welfare system as argued in these pages last week by Blueprint Institute chief economist Steven Hamilton. As he pointed out, “almost uniquely among wealthy nations” Australia lacks a “true unemployment insurance system”, and in its place has a “meagre form of semi-permanent welfare that serves nobody well – not recipients, not employers, not our economy”.