In this episode of the Veriditas Podcast, host Dr. Petra Bueskens speaks with recurring guest Kate Mason, delving into the transformation of welfare and citizenship under the new “wellbeing economy” and how this is reshaping the social contract. Kate discusses social impact bonds and the increasing involvement of private corporations in public welfare through ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics. The conversation also touches on the concerning trend of data collection and genetic engineering in children under the guise of public health and social good. Kate expresses her concerns about the societal implications of these changes, suggesting they signify a shift towards more intrusive and authoritarian governance. The discussion also covers the potential future of a universal basic income tied to extensive data sharing and surveillance, and parallels drawn between these trends and historical eugenics movements. Kate also shares insights from her year-long hiatus from research, shedding light on the evolving landscape of public trust, social cohesion, and the increasingly intertwined roles of government and private corporations in shaping public policy. They highlight the intrusive nature of new welfare models, particularly their impact on children, and the loss of personal privacy in the name of collective good.

00:00 Introduction to the Veriditas Podcast

00:52 Discussing the Social Contract and Social Impact Bonds

02:27 The Risk-Averse Landscape and Authoritarianism

03:45 Genetic Engineering and Eugenics Concerns

06:11 Zero Trust Social Contracts and Digital Identity

09:18 Democracy and Social Cohesion in Australia

16:05 Pre-Crime and Strengthening Hate Crime Laws

20:44 Social Impact Bonds and Capitalism 2.0

25:30 Impact Investing and the Role of Corporations

39:02 Data Collection and Eugenics in Social Programs

41:03 The Dark Side of Eugenics

41:17 Epigenetics and Environmental Influence

41:46 Political and Organizational Influence

42:29 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing

43:21 Wellbeing Economy and Data Collection

43:39 Intervention and Reporting on Wellbeing

44:59 Citizen Juries and DNA Collection

48:23 Genetic Engineering and Ethical Concerns

51:58 Social Impact Bonds and Welfare

55:45 Privacy, Surveillance, and Social Contracts

01:13:37 Mental Health and Pathologizing Children

01:16:05 Conclusion and Future Directions

References

Kate Mason, ‘Democracy 2.0 Capitalism 2.0: People as a market- Children as the most precious mineral’, August 4, 2024. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fimuLAqxZ80&t=1s&pp=2AEBkAIB

Link to Substack article: Democracy 2.0 Capitalism 2.0, https://kate739.substack.com/p/democracy-20-capitalism-20 

Centre for Policy Development. The Wellbeing Economy in Brief, March 4, 2024. https://cpd.org.au/work/wellbeing-economy-in-brief/ 

Big Brother Watch, ‘Checkpoint Britain: the dangers of digital ID and why privacy must be protected’, August 2025. https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Checkpoint-Britain.pdf 

Australian Government. Strengthening Australian democracy: A practical agenda for democratic resilience. 15 Jul 2024. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us-subsite/files/strengthening-australian-democracy.pdf 

Olivia Caisley, ‘New AFP boss warns hate crime laws may need to be strengthened further’, ABC News, 8 October, 2025. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-08/afp-commissioner-krissy-barrett-national-security-warning/105848960 

Australian Government, Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2025. https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7240 

Andrew Frost Thrive by Five – https://www.thrivebyfive.org.au/news/regional-remote-funding/#:~:text=15%20February%202023%20%E2%80%93%20Minderoo%20Foundation’s,services%20operating%20in%20vulnerable%20communities. 

Alison McDowell, What is a Social Impact Bond? April 7, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I9tRPq_Jp8 

The Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children, https://www.investmentdialogue.org.au/ 

Nothing to hide argument –  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_to_hide_argument#:~:text=Edward%20Snowden%20remarked%20that%20%22arguing,to%20hide%20something%20from%20others.