Professor Sharon Wright

  • Professor of Social Policy (Urban Studies & Social Policy)

telephone: 01413303782
email: Sharon.Wright@glasgow.ac.uk

Room 118, 25 Bute Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RS

Import to contacts

ORCID iDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6312-6052

Biography

I am Professor of Social Policy and an expert in lived experiences of welfare conditionality, social security benefits and welfare reform.

My latest book is Women and Welfare Conditionality: lived experiences of benefit sanctions, work and welfare.

Impact

I am a high impact researcher and keen to engage with academic, policy and public debates about:

  • social security
  • welfare benefits
  • welfare conditionality
  • women, work and welfare
  • poverty and inequalities
  • transitions between work and welfare
  • activation
  • behaviour change. 

Background

I have always been fascinated by the gaps between policy design, implementation and lived experiences.   

I spent eight years on the Social Policy Association Executive Committee and edited the journal Social Policy & Society (2005-2010).

With theoretical roots in Sociology and Social Policy, and methodological expertise in applied social research, I previously held the posts of: 

  • Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Stirling
  • Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Oxford, teaching postgraduate Comparative Social Policy and undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics and 
  • Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Warwick, where I also completed the Warwick Teaching Certificate in Post-Compulsory Education.   

My own PhD was an ethnographic study of ‘Confronting Unemployment in a Street-Level Bureaucracy: Jobcentre staff and client perspectives’ (University of Stirling, 2003).  

Research interests

My research specialism is in analysing British welfare reforms in international and comparative perspective.  My current research uses in-depth qualitative methods to:

•understand lived experiences of welfare reform in relation to concepts of ‘agency’

•assess the ethics and effectiveness of ‘welfare conditionality’ in theory, policy and practice and

•analyse how changes to both policy content and governance (e.g. marketisation and decentralisation) impact on front-line advisers and benefit recipients.


My work also contributes to understandings of what poverty means to people in the context of social divisions and inequalities of income and wealth, particularly in the context of post-devolution Scotland.

Research groups

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 1999
Number of items: 85.

2024

Wright, S. (2024) How the UK’s social security system stopped tackling poverty. Conversation, 20 Jun.

Patrick, R. and Wright, S. (2024) Lessons from Scotland for UK Social Security. [Website]

Wright, S. , Jones, K. and Scullion, L. (2024) How to tackle welfare rules that worsen job quality. [Website]

Jones, K., Wright, S. and Scullion, L. (2024) The impact of welfare conditionality on experiences of job quality. Work, Employment and Society, (doi: 10.1177/09500170231219677) (Early Online Publication)

Gawlewicz, A. , Narkowicz, K., Piekut, A., Trevena, P. and Wright, S. (2024) 'They made bets that I’d die’: impacts of Covid-19 on Polish essential workers in the UK. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 50(2), pp. 442-460. (doi: 10.1080/1369183X.2023.2249620)

2023

Wright, S. (2023) Women and Welfare Conditionality: Lived Experiences of Benefit Sanctions, Work and Welfare. Policy Press: Bristol. ISBN 9781447347736

Gawlewicz, A. , Narkowicz, K. and Wright, S. (2023) Heroes or villains? Migrant essential workers and combined hostilities of Covid-19 and Brexit. Discover Society: New Series, 3(2),

2022

Trevena, P., Gawlewicz, A. and Wright, S. (2022) Addressing the needs of Scotland’s migrant and minority ethnic populations under Covid-19: lessons for the future. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Robertson, L. and Stewart, A. B. R. (2022) Universal Credit and the invalidation of mental health problems: claimant and Jobcentre Plus staff experiences. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 30(2), pp. 151-170. (doi: 10.1332/175982721X16437383460256)

Trevena, P., Gawlewicz, A. , Wright, S. , Piekut, A., Narkowicz, K. and Gawłowski, R. (2022) Impacts of Covid-19 on Migrant Essential Workers in Scotland: Policy recommendations. [Research Reports or Papers]

Trevena, P., Gawlewicz, A. , Wright, S. , Piekut, A., Narkowicz, K. and Gawłowski, R. (2022) Impacts of Covid-19 on Migrant Essential Workers in the UK: Policy recommendations. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. and Dwyer, P. (2022) In-work Universal Credit: claimant experiences of conditionality mismatches and counterproductive benefit sanctions. Journal of Social Policy, 51(1), pp. 20-38. (doi: 10.1017/S0047279420000562)

Scullion, L., Jones, K. and Wright, S. (2022) Universal credit changes: increasing pressure on part-time workers is the wrong move at the worst time. [Website]

2020

Wright, S. , Stewart, A. B.R. and Gawlewicz, A. (2020) The UK welfare system is failing claimants with mental health problems – here’s what needs to be done. Conversation, 6 Nov.

Gawlewicz, A. , Stewart, A. B.R. , Katikireddi, S. V. and Wright, S. (2020) Key research findings, pages 4-10. In Wright S (ed.) Mental Health, Welfare Conditionality and Employment support: Policy Recommendations and Key Findings. Report. [Research Reports or Papers]

Robertson, L., Gawlewicz, A. , Stewart, A. B.R. , Bailey, N. , Katikireddi, S. V. and Wright, S. (2020) Policy recommendations, pages 1-3. In Wright S (ed.) Mental Health, Welfare Conditionality and Employment support: Policy Recommendations and Key Findings. Report. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. (2020) Mental Health, Welfare Conditionality and Employment Support: Policy Recommendations and Key Findings. [Research Reports or Papers]

Gawlewicz, A. , Stewart, A. B.R. , Bailey, N. , Katikireddi, S. V. and Wright, S. (2020) Analysis Protocol: Constructions of Mental Health and Problematic Alcohol Use Within UK’s Health and Welfare Policy. [Research Reports or Papers]

Stewart, A. B.R. , Gawlewicz, A. , Bailey, N. , Katikireddi, S. V. and Wright, S. (2020) Lived Experiences of Mental Health Problems and Welfare Conditionality. [Research Reports or Papers]

Robertson, L., Wright, S. and Stewart, A. B.R. (2020) How well is Universal Credit supporting people in Glasgow? [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Fletcher, D. R. and Stewart, A. (2020) Punitive benefit sanctions, welfare conditionality and the social abuse of unemployed people in Britain: transforming claimants into offenders? Social Policy and Administration, 54(2), pp. 278-294. (doi: 10.1111/spol.12577)

Robertson, L. and Wright, S. (2020) UK welfare and employability systems are failing people with mental health problems. Public Sector Focus, 31, pp. 56-57.

2019

Wright, S. and Patrick, R. (2019) Welfare conditionality in lived experience: aggregating qualitative longitudinal research. Social Policy and Society, 18(4), pp. 597-613. (doi: 10.1017/S1474746419000204)

Pattaro, S. , Bailey, N. , Williams, E. , Gibson, M. , Wells, V. , Wright, S. , Tranmer, M. and Dibben, C. (2019) Labour Market and Wider Impacts of Benefit Sanctions: A Scoping Review. 17th Annual ESPAnet Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 5-7 Sept 2019.

McIntosh, I. and Wright, S. (2019) Exploring what the notion of lived experience might offer for social policy analysis. Journal of Social Policy, 48(3), pp. 449-467. (doi: 10.1017/S0047279418000570)

Pattaro, S. , Bailey, N. , Williams, E. , Gibson, M. , Wells, V. , Wright, S. , Tranmer, M. and Dibben, C. (2019) Labour Market and Wider Impacts of Benefit Sanctions: A Scoping Review [Review Protocol]. [Research Reports or Papers] (Unpublished)

2018

Wright, S. , Scullion, L. and Dwyer, P. (2018) Universal Credit is built around flawed incentives that are doing real damage – fixing it is essential. [Website]

Wright, S. , Johnsen, S. and Scullion, L. (2018) Why benefit sanctions are both ineffective and harmful. [Website]

Fletcher, D. R. and Wright, S. (2018) A hand up or a slap down? Criminalising benefit claimants in Britain via strategies of surveillance, sanctions and deterrence. Critical Social Policy, 38(2), pp. 323-344. (doi: 10.1177/0261018317726622)

Stewart, A. B.R. and Wright, S. (2018) Final findings: Jobseekers. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Dwyer, P., Jones, K., McNeill, J., Scullion, L. and Stewart, A. B.R. (2018) Final findings: Universal Credit. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Stewart, A. B.R. and Dwyer, P. (2018) Final findings: social security in Scotland. [Research Reports or Papers]

2017

Wright, S. and Dwyer, P. (2017) Is the new impact agenda the excuse you’ve been waiting for to use your research to make a difference? [Website]

Dwyer, P. and Wright, S. (2017) What it’s like to transition on to Universal Credit. [Website]

2016

Alcock, P., Haux, T., May, M. and Wright, S. (Eds.) (2016) The Student's Companion to Social Policy, 5th Edition. Wiley Blackwell: Chichester, West Sussex, UK. ISBN 9781118965979

Wright, S. (2016) Divisions and difference. In: Alcock, P., Haux, T., May, M. and Wright, S. (eds.) The Student's Companion to Social Policy, 5th Edition. Wiley Blackwell: Chichester, West Sussex, UK, pp. 219-225. ISBN 9781118965979

Wright, S. (2016) ‘I don’t want your benefits!’ Welfare reforms fail to understand the day-to-day lives of those on benefits. [Website]

Dwyer, P., Bright, J., Wright, S. , Stewart, A. B.R. , Fletcher, D. R., Flint, J. and Johnsen, S. (2016) First wave findings: Overview: Social security in Scotland. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Dwyer, P., McNeill, J. and Stewart, A. B.R. (2016) First wave findings: Universal Credit. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. and Stewart, A. B.R. (2016) First wave findings: Jobseekers. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. (2016) Conceptualising the active welfare subject: welfare reform in discourse, policy and lived experience. Policy and Politics, 44(2), pp. 235-252. (doi: 10.1332/030557314X13904856745154)

Gibb, K. , Stephens, M. , Reuschke, D., Wright, S. , Besemer, K. and Sosenko, F. (2016) How Does Housing Affect Work Incentives for People in Poverty? [Research Reports or Papers]

2015

Mackenzie, M. , Collins, C., McCartney, G., McCrory, M. and Wright, S. (2015) Troubled by Ubble. Lancet(386), p. 2055. (doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00970-8) (PMID:26700389)

2014

Larsen, F. and Wright, S. (2014) Interpreting the marketisation of employment services in Great Britain and Denmark. Journal of European Social Policy, 24(5), pp. 455-469. (doi: 10.1177/0958928714543903)

Stewart, A. B.R. and Wright, S. (2014) Conditionality Briefing: Unemployed People. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. (2014) Devolution and social policy. In: Bochel, H. and Daly, G. (eds.) Social Policy [3rd.ed.]. Routledge: London, pp. 70-89. ISBN 9780415733823

Dwyer, P. and Wright, S. (2014) Universal credit, ubiquitous conditionality and its implications for social citizenship. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 22(1), pp. 27-35. (doi: 10.1332/175982714X13875305151043)

Gibb, K. , Sprigings, N., Wright, S. and McNulty, D. (2014) Evidence Review of the Impacts of UK Welfare Reform Affecting Housing. [Research Reports or Papers]

2013

Wright, S. (2013) On ‘activation workers’ perceptions’: a reply to Dunn (2). Journal of Social Policy, 42(4), pp. 829-837. (doi: 10.1017/S0047279413000494)

2012

Scott, G. and Wright, S. (2012) Devolution, social democratic visions and policy reality in Scotland. Critical Social Policy, 32(3), pp. 440-453. (doi: 10.1177/0261018312444420)

Wright, S. (2012) Welfare-to-work, agency and personal responsibility. Journal of Social Policy, 41(02), pp. 309-328. (doi: 10.1017/S0047279411001000)

Alcock, P., May, M. and Wright, S. (Eds.) (2012) The Student’s Companion to Social Policy. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9780470655658

Bertram, C. and Wright, S. (2012) Working Scotland. In: Mooney, G. and Scott, G. (eds.) Social Justice and Social Policy in Scotland. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 203-222. ISBN 9781847427021

Minas, R., Wright, S. and Van Berkel, R. (2012) Decentralization and centralization: governing the activation of social assistance recipients in Europe. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 32(5/6), pp. 286-298. (doi: 10.1108/01443331211236989)

Wright, S. (2012) Social divisions. In: Alcock, P., May, M. and Wright, S. (eds.) The Student’s Companion to Social Policy. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 173-179. ISBN 9780470655658

2011

Wright, S. and Haux, T. (2011) On the Receiving End: Perspectives on Being Out of Work and Claiming Benefits. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Marston, G. and McDonald, C. (2011) The role of non-profit organizations in the mixed economy of welfare-to-work in the UK and Australia. Social Policy and Administration, 45(3), pp. 299-318. (doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2011.00770.x)

Mooney, G. and Wright, S. (2011) Presenting and re-presenting poverty. In: McKendrick, J.H., Mooney, G., Dickie, J. and Kelly, P. (eds.) Poverty in Scotland 2011: Towards a More Equal Scotland. Child Poverty Action Group: London, pp. 133-145. ISBN 9781906076597

Wright, S. (2011) Relinquishing rights? The impact of activation on citizenship for lone parents in the UK. In: Betzelt, S. and Bothfeld, S. (eds.) Activation and Labour Market Reforms in Europe. Challenges to Social Citizenship. Series: Work and welfare in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke, pp. 59-78. ISBN 9780230289543

Wright, S. (2011) Steering with sticks, rowing for rewards: the new governance of activation in the UK. In: van Berkel, R., de Graaf, W. and Sirovátka, T. (eds.) The Governance of Active Welfare States in Europe. Series: Work and welfare in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke, pp. 85-109. ISBN 9780230252004

Wright, S. (2011) Welfare-to-work. In: Millar, J. (ed.) Understanding Social Security: Issues for Policy and Practice. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 193-212. ISBN 9781847421876

Wright, S. and Mooney, G. (2011) Combating poverty through policy, practice and provision of services. In: McKendrick, J.H., Mooney, G., Dickie, J. and Kelly, P. (eds.) Poverty in Scotland 2011: Towards a More Equal Scotland. Child Poverty Action Group: London, pp. 146-152. ISBN 9781906076597

2009

de Lima, P. and Wright, S. (2009) Welcoming migrants? Migrant labour in rural Scotland. Social Policy and Society, 8(3), pp. 391-404. (doi: 10.1017/S1474746409004941)

Mooney, G. and Wright, S. (2009) Introduction: social policy in the devolved Scotland: towards a Scottish welfare state? Social Policy and Society, 8(3), pp. 361-365. (doi: 10.1017/S147474640900493X)

Mooney, G. and Wright, S. (2009) Wealthier and fairer? Reflecting on SNP proposals for tackling poverty, inequality and deprivation in Scotland. Scottish Affairs, 67, pp. 50-57.

2008

Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (Eds.) (2008) Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth: Policies and Prospects. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol. ISBN 9781861349156

Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (2008) Conclusion. In: Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (eds.) Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth: Policies and Prospects. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 313-323. ISBN 9781861349156

Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (2008) Introduction. In: Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (eds.) Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth: Policies and Prospects. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 1-12. ISBN 9781861349156

Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (2008) State approaches to poverty and social exclusion. In: Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (eds.) Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth: Policies and Prospects. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 283-310. ISBN 9781861349156

Wright, S. (2008) Contracting Out Employment Services: Lessons from Australia, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Series: CPAG policy briefing. Child Poverty Action Group: London. ISBN 9781906076238

Wright, S. (2008) Social divisions. In: Alcock, P., May, M. and Rowlingson, K. (eds.) The Student’s Companion to Social Policy. Blackwell Publishing: Oxford, pp. 123-130. ISBN 9781405169011

2007

Bertram, C. and Wright, S. (2007) A Pluralistic Account of the Conceptions of Different Stakeholders of what is a Quality Outcome for an Individual. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. and Bertram, C. (2007) Final Evaluation Report. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. and Bertram, C. (2007) Defining Successful Outcomes for Users: A Cross-National Comparison of Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Purpose of Employment Advice and Career Guidance for People Who are Out of Work and Workers at Risk. [Research Reports or Papers]

2006

Bertram, C. and Wright, S. (2006) In-depth Analysis of Guidance and Counselling in the United Kingdom. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. (2006) The administration of transformation: a case study of implementing welfare reform in the UK. In: Henman, P. and Fenger, M. (eds.) Administering Welfare Reform: International Transformations in Welfare Governance. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 161-182. ISBN 9781861346520

Wright, S. (2006) Unemployment benefits. In: Fitzpatrick, T., Kwon, H., Manning, N., Midgely, J. and Pascall, G. (eds.) International Encyclopedia of Social Policy. Routledge: London. ISBN 9780415258968

2005

Viebrock, E. and Wright, S. (2005) Governance Arrangements of Career Guidance in the United Kingdom. [Research Reports or Papers]

2004

Wright, S. , Kopač, A. and Slater, G. (2004) Continuities within paradigmatic change. European Societies, 6(4), pp. 511-534. (doi: 10.1080/1461669042000275881)

2003

Tanner, E., Bennett, F., Churchill, H., Ferres, G., Tanner, S. and Wright, S. (2003) The Costs of Local Education: A Local Study. Series: Poverty publication. Child Poverty Action Group: London. ISBN 9781901698572

Wright, S. (2003) The street level implementation of unemployment policy. In: Millar, J. (ed.) Understanding Social Security: Issues for Policy and Practice. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 235-253. ISBN 9781861344205

2002

Wright, S. (2002) Activating the unemployed: the street-level implementation of UK policy. Tijdschrift voor Arbeid en Participatie, 24(2), pp. 105-124.

Wright, S. (2002) Activating the unemployed: the street-level implementation of UK policy. In: Clasen, J. (ed.) What Future for Social Security? Debates and Reforms in National and Cross-National Perspective. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 235-249. ISBN 9781861344106

2001

Clasen, J., Duncan, G., Eardley, T., Evans, M., Ughetto, P., van Oorshot, W. and Wright, S. (2001) Towards ‘single gateways’? A cross-national review of the changing roles of employment offices in seven countries. Zeitschrift für Internationales und Ausländisches Sozialrecht, 1, pp. 43-63.

1999

Wright, S. (1999) Poverty Matters in Fife. [Research Reports or Papers]

This list was generated on Fri Feb 21 12:12:50 2025 GMT.
Jump to: Articles | Books | Book Sections | Edited Books | Research Reports or Papers | Conference or Workshop Item | Website
Number of items: 85.

Articles

Wright, S. (2024) How the UK’s social security system stopped tackling poverty. Conversation, 20 Jun.

Jones, K., Wright, S. and Scullion, L. (2024) The impact of welfare conditionality on experiences of job quality. Work, Employment and Society, (doi: 10.1177/09500170231219677) (Early Online Publication)

Gawlewicz, A. , Narkowicz, K., Piekut, A., Trevena, P. and Wright, S. (2024) 'They made bets that I’d die’: impacts of Covid-19 on Polish essential workers in the UK. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 50(2), pp. 442-460. (doi: 10.1080/1369183X.2023.2249620)

Gawlewicz, A. , Narkowicz, K. and Wright, S. (2023) Heroes or villains? Migrant essential workers and combined hostilities of Covid-19 and Brexit. Discover Society: New Series, 3(2),

Wright, S. , Robertson, L. and Stewart, A. B. R. (2022) Universal Credit and the invalidation of mental health problems: claimant and Jobcentre Plus staff experiences. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 30(2), pp. 151-170. (doi: 10.1332/175982721X16437383460256)

Wright, S. and Dwyer, P. (2022) In-work Universal Credit: claimant experiences of conditionality mismatches and counterproductive benefit sanctions. Journal of Social Policy, 51(1), pp. 20-38. (doi: 10.1017/S0047279420000562)

Wright, S. , Stewart, A. B.R. and Gawlewicz, A. (2020) The UK welfare system is failing claimants with mental health problems – here’s what needs to be done. Conversation, 6 Nov.

Wright, S. , Fletcher, D. R. and Stewart, A. (2020) Punitive benefit sanctions, welfare conditionality and the social abuse of unemployed people in Britain: transforming claimants into offenders? Social Policy and Administration, 54(2), pp. 278-294. (doi: 10.1111/spol.12577)

Robertson, L. and Wright, S. (2020) UK welfare and employability systems are failing people with mental health problems. Public Sector Focus, 31, pp. 56-57.

Wright, S. and Patrick, R. (2019) Welfare conditionality in lived experience: aggregating qualitative longitudinal research. Social Policy and Society, 18(4), pp. 597-613. (doi: 10.1017/S1474746419000204)

McIntosh, I. and Wright, S. (2019) Exploring what the notion of lived experience might offer for social policy analysis. Journal of Social Policy, 48(3), pp. 449-467. (doi: 10.1017/S0047279418000570)

Fletcher, D. R. and Wright, S. (2018) A hand up or a slap down? Criminalising benefit claimants in Britain via strategies of surveillance, sanctions and deterrence. Critical Social Policy, 38(2), pp. 323-344. (doi: 10.1177/0261018317726622)

Wright, S. (2016) Conceptualising the active welfare subject: welfare reform in discourse, policy and lived experience. Policy and Politics, 44(2), pp. 235-252. (doi: 10.1332/030557314X13904856745154)

Mackenzie, M. , Collins, C., McCartney, G., McCrory, M. and Wright, S. (2015) Troubled by Ubble. Lancet(386), p. 2055. (doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00970-8) (PMID:26700389)

Larsen, F. and Wright, S. (2014) Interpreting the marketisation of employment services in Great Britain and Denmark. Journal of European Social Policy, 24(5), pp. 455-469. (doi: 10.1177/0958928714543903)

Dwyer, P. and Wright, S. (2014) Universal credit, ubiquitous conditionality and its implications for social citizenship. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 22(1), pp. 27-35. (doi: 10.1332/175982714X13875305151043)

Wright, S. (2013) On ‘activation workers’ perceptions’: a reply to Dunn (2). Journal of Social Policy, 42(4), pp. 829-837. (doi: 10.1017/S0047279413000494)

Scott, G. and Wright, S. (2012) Devolution, social democratic visions and policy reality in Scotland. Critical Social Policy, 32(3), pp. 440-453. (doi: 10.1177/0261018312444420)

Wright, S. (2012) Welfare-to-work, agency and personal responsibility. Journal of Social Policy, 41(02), pp. 309-328. (doi: 10.1017/S0047279411001000)

Minas, R., Wright, S. and Van Berkel, R. (2012) Decentralization and centralization: governing the activation of social assistance recipients in Europe. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 32(5/6), pp. 286-298. (doi: 10.1108/01443331211236989)

Wright, S. , Marston, G. and McDonald, C. (2011) The role of non-profit organizations in the mixed economy of welfare-to-work in the UK and Australia. Social Policy and Administration, 45(3), pp. 299-318. (doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2011.00770.x)

de Lima, P. and Wright, S. (2009) Welcoming migrants? Migrant labour in rural Scotland. Social Policy and Society, 8(3), pp. 391-404. (doi: 10.1017/S1474746409004941)

Mooney, G. and Wright, S. (2009) Introduction: social policy in the devolved Scotland: towards a Scottish welfare state? Social Policy and Society, 8(3), pp. 361-365. (doi: 10.1017/S147474640900493X)

Mooney, G. and Wright, S. (2009) Wealthier and fairer? Reflecting on SNP proposals for tackling poverty, inequality and deprivation in Scotland. Scottish Affairs, 67, pp. 50-57.

Wright, S. , Kopač, A. and Slater, G. (2004) Continuities within paradigmatic change. European Societies, 6(4), pp. 511-534. (doi: 10.1080/1461669042000275881)

Wright, S. (2002) Activating the unemployed: the street-level implementation of UK policy. Tijdschrift voor Arbeid en Participatie, 24(2), pp. 105-124.

Clasen, J., Duncan, G., Eardley, T., Evans, M., Ughetto, P., van Oorshot, W. and Wright, S. (2001) Towards ‘single gateways’? A cross-national review of the changing roles of employment offices in seven countries. Zeitschrift für Internationales und Ausländisches Sozialrecht, 1, pp. 43-63.

Books

Wright, S. (2023) Women and Welfare Conditionality: Lived Experiences of Benefit Sanctions, Work and Welfare. Policy Press: Bristol. ISBN 9781447347736

Wright, S. (2008) Contracting Out Employment Services: Lessons from Australia, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Series: CPAG policy briefing. Child Poverty Action Group: London. ISBN 9781906076238

Book Sections

Wright, S. (2016) Divisions and difference. In: Alcock, P., Haux, T., May, M. and Wright, S. (eds.) The Student's Companion to Social Policy, 5th Edition. Wiley Blackwell: Chichester, West Sussex, UK, pp. 219-225. ISBN 9781118965979

Wright, S. (2014) Devolution and social policy. In: Bochel, H. and Daly, G. (eds.) Social Policy [3rd.ed.]. Routledge: London, pp. 70-89. ISBN 9780415733823

Bertram, C. and Wright, S. (2012) Working Scotland. In: Mooney, G. and Scott, G. (eds.) Social Justice and Social Policy in Scotland. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 203-222. ISBN 9781847427021

Wright, S. (2012) Social divisions. In: Alcock, P., May, M. and Wright, S. (eds.) The Student’s Companion to Social Policy. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 173-179. ISBN 9780470655658

Mooney, G. and Wright, S. (2011) Presenting and re-presenting poverty. In: McKendrick, J.H., Mooney, G., Dickie, J. and Kelly, P. (eds.) Poverty in Scotland 2011: Towards a More Equal Scotland. Child Poverty Action Group: London, pp. 133-145. ISBN 9781906076597

Wright, S. (2011) Relinquishing rights? The impact of activation on citizenship for lone parents in the UK. In: Betzelt, S. and Bothfeld, S. (eds.) Activation and Labour Market Reforms in Europe. Challenges to Social Citizenship. Series: Work and welfare in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke, pp. 59-78. ISBN 9780230289543

Wright, S. (2011) Steering with sticks, rowing for rewards: the new governance of activation in the UK. In: van Berkel, R., de Graaf, W. and Sirovátka, T. (eds.) The Governance of Active Welfare States in Europe. Series: Work and welfare in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke, pp. 85-109. ISBN 9780230252004

Wright, S. (2011) Welfare-to-work. In: Millar, J. (ed.) Understanding Social Security: Issues for Policy and Practice. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 193-212. ISBN 9781847421876

Wright, S. and Mooney, G. (2011) Combating poverty through policy, practice and provision of services. In: McKendrick, J.H., Mooney, G., Dickie, J. and Kelly, P. (eds.) Poverty in Scotland 2011: Towards a More Equal Scotland. Child Poverty Action Group: London, pp. 146-152. ISBN 9781906076597

Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (2008) Conclusion. In: Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (eds.) Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth: Policies and Prospects. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 313-323. ISBN 9781861349156

Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (2008) Introduction. In: Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (eds.) Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth: Policies and Prospects. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 1-12. ISBN 9781861349156

Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (2008) State approaches to poverty and social exclusion. In: Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (eds.) Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth: Policies and Prospects. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 283-310. ISBN 9781861349156

Wright, S. (2008) Social divisions. In: Alcock, P., May, M. and Rowlingson, K. (eds.) The Student’s Companion to Social Policy. Blackwell Publishing: Oxford, pp. 123-130. ISBN 9781405169011

Wright, S. (2006) The administration of transformation: a case study of implementing welfare reform in the UK. In: Henman, P. and Fenger, M. (eds.) Administering Welfare Reform: International Transformations in Welfare Governance. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 161-182. ISBN 9781861346520

Wright, S. (2006) Unemployment benefits. In: Fitzpatrick, T., Kwon, H., Manning, N., Midgely, J. and Pascall, G. (eds.) International Encyclopedia of Social Policy. Routledge: London. ISBN 9780415258968

Wright, S. (2003) The street level implementation of unemployment policy. In: Millar, J. (ed.) Understanding Social Security: Issues for Policy and Practice. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 235-253. ISBN 9781861344205

Wright, S. (2002) Activating the unemployed: the street-level implementation of UK policy. In: Clasen, J. (ed.) What Future for Social Security? Debates and Reforms in National and Cross-National Perspective. The Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 235-249. ISBN 9781861344106

Edited Books

Alcock, P., Haux, T., May, M. and Wright, S. (Eds.) (2016) The Student's Companion to Social Policy, 5th Edition. Wiley Blackwell: Chichester, West Sussex, UK. ISBN 9781118965979

Alcock, P., May, M. and Wright, S. (Eds.) (2012) The Student’s Companion to Social Policy. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9780470655658

Ridge, T. and Wright, S. (Eds.) (2008) Understanding Inequality, Poverty and Wealth: Policies and Prospects. Series: Understanding welfare. The Policy Press: Bristol. ISBN 9781861349156

Tanner, E., Bennett, F., Churchill, H., Ferres, G., Tanner, S. and Wright, S. (2003) The Costs of Local Education: A Local Study. Series: Poverty publication. Child Poverty Action Group: London. ISBN 9781901698572

Research Reports or Papers

Trevena, P., Gawlewicz, A. and Wright, S. (2022) Addressing the needs of Scotland’s migrant and minority ethnic populations under Covid-19: lessons for the future. [Research Reports or Papers]

Trevena, P., Gawlewicz, A. , Wright, S. , Piekut, A., Narkowicz, K. and Gawłowski, R. (2022) Impacts of Covid-19 on Migrant Essential Workers in Scotland: Policy recommendations. [Research Reports or Papers]

Trevena, P., Gawlewicz, A. , Wright, S. , Piekut, A., Narkowicz, K. and Gawłowski, R. (2022) Impacts of Covid-19 on Migrant Essential Workers in the UK: Policy recommendations. [Research Reports or Papers]

Gawlewicz, A. , Stewart, A. B.R. , Katikireddi, S. V. and Wright, S. (2020) Key research findings, pages 4-10. In Wright S (ed.) Mental Health, Welfare Conditionality and Employment support: Policy Recommendations and Key Findings. Report. [Research Reports or Papers]

Robertson, L., Gawlewicz, A. , Stewart, A. B.R. , Bailey, N. , Katikireddi, S. V. and Wright, S. (2020) Policy recommendations, pages 1-3. In Wright S (ed.) Mental Health, Welfare Conditionality and Employment support: Policy Recommendations and Key Findings. Report. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. (2020) Mental Health, Welfare Conditionality and Employment Support: Policy Recommendations and Key Findings. [Research Reports or Papers]

Gawlewicz, A. , Stewart, A. B.R. , Bailey, N. , Katikireddi, S. V. and Wright, S. (2020) Analysis Protocol: Constructions of Mental Health and Problematic Alcohol Use Within UK’s Health and Welfare Policy. [Research Reports or Papers]

Stewart, A. B.R. , Gawlewicz, A. , Bailey, N. , Katikireddi, S. V. and Wright, S. (2020) Lived Experiences of Mental Health Problems and Welfare Conditionality. [Research Reports or Papers]

Robertson, L., Wright, S. and Stewart, A. B.R. (2020) How well is Universal Credit supporting people in Glasgow? [Research Reports or Papers]

Pattaro, S. , Bailey, N. , Williams, E. , Gibson, M. , Wells, V. , Wright, S. , Tranmer, M. and Dibben, C. (2019) Labour Market and Wider Impacts of Benefit Sanctions: A Scoping Review [Review Protocol]. [Research Reports or Papers] (Unpublished)

Stewart, A. B.R. and Wright, S. (2018) Final findings: Jobseekers. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Dwyer, P., Jones, K., McNeill, J., Scullion, L. and Stewart, A. B.R. (2018) Final findings: Universal Credit. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Stewart, A. B.R. and Dwyer, P. (2018) Final findings: social security in Scotland. [Research Reports or Papers]

Dwyer, P., Bright, J., Wright, S. , Stewart, A. B.R. , Fletcher, D. R., Flint, J. and Johnsen, S. (2016) First wave findings: Overview: Social security in Scotland. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. , Dwyer, P., McNeill, J. and Stewart, A. B.R. (2016) First wave findings: Universal Credit. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. and Stewart, A. B.R. (2016) First wave findings: Jobseekers. [Research Reports or Papers]

Gibb, K. , Stephens, M. , Reuschke, D., Wright, S. , Besemer, K. and Sosenko, F. (2016) How Does Housing Affect Work Incentives for People in Poverty? [Research Reports or Papers]

Stewart, A. B.R. and Wright, S. (2014) Conditionality Briefing: Unemployed People. [Research Reports or Papers]

Gibb, K. , Sprigings, N., Wright, S. and McNulty, D. (2014) Evidence Review of the Impacts of UK Welfare Reform Affecting Housing. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. and Haux, T. (2011) On the Receiving End: Perspectives on Being Out of Work and Claiming Benefits. [Research Reports or Papers]

Bertram, C. and Wright, S. (2007) A Pluralistic Account of the Conceptions of Different Stakeholders of what is a Quality Outcome for an Individual. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. and Bertram, C. (2007) Final Evaluation Report. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. and Bertram, C. (2007) Defining Successful Outcomes for Users: A Cross-National Comparison of Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Purpose of Employment Advice and Career Guidance for People Who are Out of Work and Workers at Risk. [Research Reports or Papers]

Bertram, C. and Wright, S. (2006) In-depth Analysis of Guidance and Counselling in the United Kingdom. [Research Reports or Papers]

Viebrock, E. and Wright, S. (2005) Governance Arrangements of Career Guidance in the United Kingdom. [Research Reports or Papers]

Wright, S. (1999) Poverty Matters in Fife. [Research Reports or Papers]

Conference or Workshop Item

Pattaro, S. , Bailey, N. , Williams, E. , Gibson, M. , Wells, V. , Wright, S. , Tranmer, M. and Dibben, C. (2019) Labour Market and Wider Impacts of Benefit Sanctions: A Scoping Review. 17th Annual ESPAnet Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 5-7 Sept 2019.

Website

Patrick, R. and Wright, S. (2024) Lessons from Scotland for UK Social Security. [Website]

Wright, S. , Jones, K. and Scullion, L. (2024) How to tackle welfare rules that worsen job quality. [Website]

Scullion, L., Jones, K. and Wright, S. (2022) Universal credit changes: increasing pressure on part-time workers is the wrong move at the worst time. [Website]

Wright, S. , Scullion, L. and Dwyer, P. (2018) Universal Credit is built around flawed incentives that are doing real damage – fixing it is essential. [Website]

Wright, S. , Johnsen, S. and Scullion, L. (2018) Why benefit sanctions are both ineffective and harmful. [Website]

Wright, S. and Dwyer, P. (2017) Is the new impact agenda the excuse you’ve been waiting for to use your research to make a difference? [Website]

Dwyer, P. and Wright, S. (2017) What it’s like to transition on to Universal Credit. [Website]

Wright, S. (2016) ‘I don’t want your benefits!’ Welfare reforms fail to understand the day-to-day lives of those on benefits. [Website]

This list was generated on Fri Feb 21 12:12:50 2025 GMT.

Grants

 

2022 £29,994 Scottish Government, Co-I with Paulina Trevena and Anna Gawlewicz, 'Addressing the needs of Scotland’s migrant and minority ethnic populations under Covid-19: Lessons for the future'
2021-2022 £20,127 ESRC-IAA, Co-I with Anna Gawlewicz and Paulina Trevena, ‘Migrant Essential Workers: Portable multi-arts exhibition’
2020-2022 £302,999 UKRI/ESRC, PI with Anna Gawlewicz, Kasia Narkovicz and Aneta Piekut, ‘Health, social, economic and cultural impacts of Covid-19 on migrant essential workers in the UK’ (ES/V015877/1)
2018-2019 £71,716 Joseph Rowntree Foundation, PI with The Poverty Alliance, ‘How well is Universal Credit supporting people in Glasgow?’
2020 £30,579 Health Foundation, PI, ‘Impact for policy and practice: mental health and employment outcomes’
2018-2020 £44,707 (Total Grant £800, 466) Health Foundation, Co-I with Alasdair Stewart, Nick Bailey and Vittal Katikireddi, ‘Causal effects of mental health and alcohol on employment outcomes’ 
2018-2019 £3590 (Total Grant £34,969) ESRC, Co-I with Peter Dwyer, Del Roy Fletcher and Lisa Scullion, ‘Anglo Conditionality Network’
2018-2019 £2314 ESRC-IAA, PI, ‘Welfare Conditionality:  impact for social security and employment services in Scotland’
2013-2018 £352,444 (Total Grant £2.56m) ESRC Centres and Large Grants Competition, Co-I with Peter Dwyer, Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Del Roy Fletcher, John Flint, Sarah Johnsen and Lisa Scullion, ‘Sanctions, support and behaviour change:  understanding the role and impact of welfare conditionality’ (ES/K002163/1)  
2014-2015 £25,065 (Total Grant £79,269) Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Co-I with Kenneth Gibb, Kirsten Besemer, Darja Reuschke and Mark Stephens, ‘Housing and work incentives’
2014 £9960 Scottish Government, Co-I with Ken Gibb, Des McNulty and Nigel Sprigings, ‘Impact of Welfare Reform on Housing’
2008 £6973 The Baring Foundation/The City Bridge Trust, PI with Child Poverty Action Group, 'Using different types of services for advice about benefits, tax credits and employment'
2006 £870 Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, PI, ‘Welfare-to-Work Reforms:  the UK and Australia in Comparative Perspective’
2006-2012 €13, 699.20 (Total Grant €4m) European Commission FP6 Network of Excellence, Scientific Coordinator, ‘Reconciling Work and Welfare in Europe’ (028339)
2004-2007 €85, 244 (Total Grant €639,345) European Commission, Co-I, ‘Comparative and evaluative analysis of services for out-of-work individuals and workers at risk in five European countries’ (ES/04/C/F/RF-80900)
2000 £6, 961.50 ESRC SPA Postgraduate Advanced Research Training Residential School,  University of Warwick

 

Supervision

Research supervision

 I welcome PhD enquiries and applications, particularly in the fields of:

  • social policy
  • social security
  • welfare reform
  • welfare conditionality
  • benefit sanctions
  • welfare-to-work
  • women, work and welfare
  • employment services
  • poverty
  • lived experience
  • agency
  • feminist analysis
  • qualitative research
  • qualitative longitudinal research
  • ethnography
  • Paul, Lisa
    Personal assistance for disabled people, changing labour markets and social care reform, supervised by Dr. Charlotte Pearson (first supervisor), Professor Sharon Wright (second supervisor), and Dr. Michelle McGachie (third supervisor)

Successful completions

Thomas Rochow (ESRC) ‘Young People, Individualism, and Welfare Conditionality Over Time’ (2023)

Maximilian Kriz (University of Glasgow) ‘Platform Work in Municipal Contexts: A Multi-Level Governance Analysis of Madrid, Milan, and San Francisco’ (2023)

Robert Richardson (ESRC) ‘Creating well-designed places in Scotland: What does it take’ (2022)

David Baruffati (ESRC) ‘A Bourdieusian ethnographic exploration of the fundamental causation of health among men across two Glasgow neighbourhoods’ (2022)

Joanne Brown (University of Glasgow) ‘Behaviour change in action: Understanding agency and contextualised interaction in benefit recipients' encounters with street level advisers’ (2020)

Evan Williams (ESRC) 'Welfare Conditionality in the UK: examining the health impacts of benefit sanctions' (2020)

James Kaufman (ESRC) ‘The welfare racket: a study of conditionality and marketized activation in street-level welfare-to-work services (2018)

Daniel Sage (ESRC) ‘Well-being and welfare-to-work: how has welfare reform affected the well-being, security and health of benefit recipients?’ (2016)

Alasdair Stewart (ESRC CASE/Scottish Council for Single Homeless) ‘Resilience to Housing Crisis: the dynamics of young people's transitions to successful independent living’ (2014)

Scott Jeffery (University of Stirling) ‘Human, Subhuman, Superhuman: An Exploration of the Development and Reception of the Post-human Body in Superhero Comic Books’ (2014)

Vikki McCall (ESRC) ‘Social Policy within Museums: Exploring Cultural Workers' Perspectives in England, Scotland and Wales’ (2012)

Christine Bertram (EC/ University of Stirling) 'Caught in the middle: how employment advisers mediate between user demands and managerial demands in UK services’ (2011)

Teaching

Course Convenor:

  • Work, Welfare and the Politics of Reform

Contributing lecturer:

  • Social and Public Policy 2A Perspectives on Public Policy - conflicting ideas and changing agendas
  • Social & Public Policy 2B Policy, Politics and Power

Dissertation supervisor

Professional activities & recognition

Prizes, awards & distinctions

  • 2007: Best Newcomer Award (Social Policy Association)

Editorial boards

  • 2005 - 2010: Social Policy & Society
  • 2004 - 2010: Journal of Social Policy

Professional & learned societies

  • 2018: , Academy of Social Sciences
  • 2000 - 2010: Executive Committee, Social Policy Association

Research datasets

Jump to: 2023
Number of items: 3.

2023

Piekut, A., Gawlewicz, A. , Narkowicz, K., Wright, S. , Trevena, P. and Le, T. P. L. (2023) Polish Migrant Essential Workers in the UK during COVID-19: Survey Data, 2021. [Data Collection]

Piekut, A., Gawlewicz, A. , Narkowicz, K., Wright, S. , Trevena, P. and Linh Le, T. P. (2023) Polish Migrant Essential Workers in the UK during COVID-19: Survey Metadata, 2021. [Data Collection]

Wright, S. , Gawlewicz, A. , Narkowicz, K., Piekut, A. and Trevena, P. (2023) Polish Migrant Essential Workers in the UK during COVID-19: Qualitative Data, 2021. [Data Collection]

This list was generated on Fri Feb 21 20:12:17 2025 GMT.

Professor Sharon Wright on Twitter