James Bartholomew was one of the first in Britain to argue that welfare states can do harm, despite good intentions.  His work has influenced public debate and government policy in Britain and elsewhere. He suggests that as welfare states spread around the world, they are changing the nature of our civilisation.

He has been a leader-writer for the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail and written for many other publications including the Spectator. He has appeared on numerous radio and television programmes.

He spent the past four years travelling to eleven countries such as Australia, Singapore and Sweden researching the impact of welfare states across the globe. The resulting book, The Welfare of Nations, was published this Spring.