It has been argued that Hobson and Ruskin, who is discussed by Shionoya in the previous chapter, can be bracketed together as ‘Oxford’ economists (Shionoya 2010).

That label is rather misleading in Hobson’s case since, as the first part of this paper shows, the original basis of his thinking was a radical tradition stretching back to Thomas Paine; and the concept of an ‘unproductive surplus’ which grew out of that remained central in Hobson’s mature thought (Cain 2002, ch.

2). As he developed his ideas, however, Hobson did put far greater stress on the qualitative side in the welfare debate. Spencer was his chief liberal guide here; but, as will be seen, Spencer’s influence was far outweighed by that of the illiberal Ruskin whose own inspiration was pre-capitalist in origin. The latter half of this chapter is concerned with how Hobson managed to reconcile what he learned from Ruskin with his liberal-radical origins and, in the process, produce an approach to welfare that was quite distinct from the liberal orthodoxy that began to establish itself in his lifetime.

2.1

More on the topic It has been argued that Hobson and Ruskin, who is discussed by Shionoya in the previous chapter, can be bracketed together as ‘Oxford’ economists (Shionoya 2010).: