Welfare Flashcards
Evidence that income related to demand for redistribution
Finseraas (2009)
- Data - individual-level data from European Social Survey (22 countries)
- Demand for redistribution decreases as income increases
Evidence that labour market risk related to demand for redistribution
- Iversen and Soskice (2009) - individuals w/greater labour market risk more likely to support more social spending and welfare state generosity
- Rehm (2011) – individuals w/greater risk of losing job more likely to demand higher unemployment benefits
Finseraas (2009)
Demand for redistribution decreases as income increases
Iversen and Soskice (2009)
Individuals w/greater labour market risk more likely to support more social spending and welfare state generosity
Rehm (2011)
Individuals w/greater risk of losing job more likely to demand higher unemployment benefits
Rehm, Hacker and Schlesinger (2012)
- Both redistribution AND social insurance demands for welfare supported at individual-level
- Overall support for generous welfare states explained by correlation between labour market risk and low incomes
(a) High correlation – both groups broadly same people and overall electoral support for generous social welfare low
(b) Low correlation – 2 groups overlap less and support for generous social welfare is greater
Evidence that the structure of the income distribution affects support for welfare states
Lupu and Pontusson (2011)
1a. Social distance = key determinant of redistribution preferences
1b. Income = good proxy for social distance in absence of cross-cutting ethnic cleavages
- Theory – social distance/affinity impacts ability to empathise with (and hence support for redistribution to) certain groups
- Empirical evidence - middle-income voters empathise w/poor and support redistribution when income distance between middle/poor small relative to distance between middle/rich (w/o cross-cutting ethnic cleavages)
Evidence that racial fractionalisation affects support for welfare states
Eger (2010)
Sweden:
- Clear evidence that ethnic heterogeneity negatively affects support for social welfare spending
- Recent immigration had negative impact on support for universal welfare spending
Alesina and Glaeser (2004)
- ETHNIC PERCEPTIONS:
(i) When minority ethnic groups perceived to be disproportionately poor, support for redistribution depressed - ETHNIC FRACTIONALISATION:
(i) Differences in ethnic fractionalisation explain 1/4 of US/European differences in welfare generosity
(ii) Racial fragmentation interfered w/formation of unified socialist party in US - BELIEFS:
(i) Correlation between belief that luck determines income and social welfare spending - POLITICAL SYSTEM:
(i) PR systems associated w/larger transfer spending in OECD
(ii) Proportionality (measure of % of average district’s vote needed to win seat) accounts for ~1/2 of US/European differences in welfare generosity
Eger (2010)
Ethnic heterogeneity and support for welfare spending
- Clear evidence in Sweden that ethnic heterogeneity negatively affects support for social welfare spending
- recent immigration had negative impact on support for universal welfare spending
Lupu and Pontusson (2011)
Structure of income distribution affects support for redistribution
- social distance = key determinant of redistribution preferences
- income a good proxy in absence of cross-cutting ethnic cleavages
- Empirical evidence – w/o cross-cutting ethnic cleavages, middle-income voters will empathise w/poor and support redistribution when income distance between middle/poor small relative to distance between middle/rich
Theory - why social distance/affinity impacts support for redistribution
social distance/affinity impacts ability to empathise with (and hence support for redistribution to) certain groups
Dimick, Rueda and Stegmueller (2018)
Altruism and support for redistribution
- Test several different approaches in which support for welfare/redistribution determined by altruism related to income inequality
- Finding – support for ‘income-dependent altruism’ hypothesis, which predicts:
(1) as inequality level increases, both rich and poor have stronger pro-redistribution preferences
(2) rich more responsive to changes in inequality - Main determinant of welfare state support = individual utility and self-interested reasons for welfare state support remain most important
Evidence that altruism explains some support for welfare states/redistribution
- Dimick, Rueda and Stegmueller (2018)
A. Finding – support for ‘income-dependent altruism’ hypothesis, which predicts:
(i) as inequality level increases, both rich and poor have stronger pro-redistribution preferences
(ii) rich more responsive to changes in inequality
(iii) Main determinant of welfare state support = self-interest
- Rueda (2017)
A. Material self-interest = most important factor shaping poor’s redistribution preferences (who consistently support redistribution)
B. Rich can ‘afford to be altruistic’ and support redistribution, conditional on identity of the poor (due to social identity theory, in/out groups)
Beramendi and Rehm (2016)
Policy feedback - progressivity and redistribution preferences
- Strength of association between income and support for redistribution varies significantly cross-nationally
- Progressivity of tax/transfer system = major determinant of this variation
(a) more progressive - income more strongly predicts redistribution preferences because ‘who gets what’ conflict increases
Evidence for policy feedback as explanation of cross-national variation in support for welfare states
- Beramendi and Rehm (2016)
(a) progressivity of tax/transfer system = major determinant of predictive power of income on redistribution preferences across different countries - Gingrich and Ansell (2012)
(a) individual risk much less important determinant of welfare state preferences in countries with:
(i) high employment protection
(ii) welfare benefits not dependent on employment status
Gingrich and Ansell (2012)
Policy feedback - employment protection and welfare benefits
- Individual risk much less important determinant of welfare state preferences in countries with:
(i) high employment protection
(ii) welfare benefits not dependent on employment status
Evidence that perceptions of ethnic minorities impact support for redistribution
Alesina and Glaeser (2004) – when minority ethnic groups perceived to be disproportionately poor, support for redistribution depressed
Why do Beramendi and Rehm (2016) argue that cross-national variation in strength with which income predicts redistribution support explained by progressivity of tax system?
a) more progressive - income more strongly predicts redistribution preferences because ‘who gets what’ conflict increases
(b) less progressive - more overlap between tax contributions and receipts, so redistribution struggles less salient
Is self-interest or altruism a stronger motivation for welfare state support?
Dimick, Rueda and Stegmueller (2018)
Main determinant of welfare state support = individual utility and self-interested reasons for welfare state support remain most important
Evidence for multi-dimensionality of redistribution preferences
- Trumpy and Cavaille (2014)
A. Strong support for multi-dimensional framework
(i) Self-interested motive – redistribution support as beneficiary ‘from rich’
(ii) Other-oriented motive – redistribution support as contributor ‘to poor’
- Rueda (2017)
A. Material self-interest = most important factor shaping poor’s redistribution preferences (who consistently support redistribution)
B. Rich can ‘afford to be altruistic’ and support redistribution, conditional on identity of the poor (due to social identity theory, in/out groups)
Trumpy and Cavaille (2014)
MULTI-DIMENSIONALITY OF REDISTRIBUTION PREFERENCES
- Dichotomy of self-interests vs altruistic motivations for redistribution attitudes = wrong
- Strong support for multi-dimensional framework
(i) Self-interested motive – redistribution support as beneficiary ‘from rich’
(ii) Other-oriented motive – redistribution support as contributor ‘to poor’
Evidence for interaction between welfare state generosity and voter turnout?
Franzese (2002)
Franzese (2002)
Positive interaction between welfare state generosity and voter turnout
When minority ethnic groups perceived to be disproportionately poor, support for redistribution depressed
Alesina and Glaeser (2004)
Is self-interest or altruism a stronger motivation for welfare state support?
Dimick, Rueda and Stegmueller (2018)
Main determinant of welfare state support = individual utility and self-interested reasons for welfare state support remain most important
Rueda (2017)
MATERIAL-SELF INTEREST + OTHER-REGARDING REDISTRIBUTION PREFERENCES
- Material self-interest = most important factor shaping poor’s redistribution preferences (who consistently support redistribution)
- Rich can ‘afford to be altruistic’ and support redistribution, conditional on identity of the poor (due to social identity theory, in/out groups)
3a. Group homogeneity magnifies importance of altruism for rich
3b. Group heterogeneity limits importance of altruism for rich
MATERIAL-SELF INTEREST + OTHER-REGARDING REDISTRIBUTION PREFERENCES
- Material self-interest = most important factor shaping poor’s redistribution preferences (who consistently support redistribution)
- Rich can ‘afford to be altruistic’ and support redistribution, conditional on identity of the poor (due to social identity theory, in/out groups)
3a. Group homogeneity magnifies importance of altruism for rich
3b. Group heterogeneity limits importance of altruism for rich
Rueda (2017)
- ETHNIC PERCEPTIONS:
(i) When minority ethnic groups perceived to be disproportionately poor, support for redistribution depressed - ETHNIC FRACTIONALISATION:
(i) Differences in ethnic fractionalisation explain 1/4 of US/European differences in welfare generosity
(ii) Racial fragmentation interfered w/formation of unified socialist party in US - BELIEFS:
(i) Correlation between belief that luck determines income and social welfare spending - POLITICAL SYSTEM:
(i) PR systems associated w/larger transfer spending in OECD
(ii) Proportionality (measure of % of average district’s vote needed to win seat) accounts for ~1/2 of US/European differences in welfare generosity
Alesina and Glaeser (2004)
ETHNIC FRACTIONALISATION
AND WELFARE GENEROSITY
(i) Differences in ethnic fractionalisation explain 1/4 of US/European differences in welfare generosity
(ii) Racial fragmentation interfered w/formation of unified socialist party in US
Alesina and Glaeser (2004)
PR systems associated w/larger transfer spending in OECD
Alesina and Glaeser (2004)
INFLUENCES ON WELFARE STATE DEVELOPMENT
- Cumulative left control of government strongly positively associated w/welfare generosity (most important factor)
2a. Constitutions w/many ‘veto points’ in policy process (e.g. strong bi-cameralism, federalism etc) slowed change (e.g. USA, Switzerland)
2b. Negative association between no. veto points and social security spending as % of GDP
Huber and Stephens (2001)
Huber and Stephens (2001)
INFLUENCES ON WELFARE STATE DEVELOPMENT
- Cumulative left control of government strongly positively associated w/welfare generosity (most important factor)
2a. Constitutions w/many ‘veto points’ in policy process (e.g. strong bi-cameralism, federalism etc) slowed change (e.g. USA, Switzerland)
2b. Negative association between no. veto points and social security spending as % of GDP
Cumulative left control of government strongly positively associated w/welfare generosity
Huber and Stephens (2001)
Why do Funk and Gathmann (2013) find that PR leads to lower ‘targeted’ spending on things like roads?
In PR systems w/national districts, geographically targeted spending makes no electoral sense
Evidence on impact of electoral system on overall level of government spending?
Mixed evidence
SWISS CANTONAL ELECTORAL REFORM
- Data:
(i) novel’ evidence of electoral reform in Swiss cantonal parliaments
(ii) Over last century or so, Swiss cantons at different times moved from plurality to PR electoral systems
(iii) Common history reduces problems of unquantifiable historical + institutional differences inherent in cross-sectional studies - Results:
(i) Electoral success of left primary a consequence (not cause) of electoral reform
(ii) Pre-existing left strength didn’t predict electoral reform
(iii) PR benefits left parties, leading to increased spending on welfare and education
(iv) PR leads to lower ‘targeted’ spending (e.g. roads)
(v) No clear evidence that PR changes total overall level of government spending
Funk and Gathmann (2013)
Funk and Gathmann (2013)
SWISS CANTONAL ELECTORAL REFORM
- Data:
(i) novel’ evidence of electoral reform in Swiss cantonal parliaments
(ii) Over last century or so, Swiss cantons at different times moved from plurality to PR electoral systems
(iii) Common history reduces problems of unquantifiable historical + institutional differences inherent in cross-sectional studies - Results:
(i) Electoral success of left primary a consequence (not cause) of electoral reform
(ii) Pre-existing left strength didn’t predict electoral reform
(iii) PR benefits left parties, leading to increased spending on welfare and education
(iv) PR leads to lower ‘targeted’ spending (e.g. roads)
(v) No clear evidence that PR changes total overall level of government spending
WHY ELECTORAL SYSTEMS PRODUCE LEFT/RIGHT BIAS
- Empirical support for A and B:
A. Voting behaviour (Iversen/Soskice argument)
B. Electoral geography (regional distribution of votes biases vote-seat translation against left in majoritarian systems, due to wide margins by which left wins urban districts)
C. Party fragmentation (if right more fragmented than left in PR countries, less chance of winning)
Manow and Doing (2017)
Manow and Doing (2017)
WHY ELECTORAL SYSTEMS PRODUCE LEFT/RIGHT BIAS
- Empirical support for A and B:
A. Voting behaviour (Iversen/Soskice argument)
B. Electoral geography (regional distribution of votes biases vote-seat translation against left in majoritarian systems, due to wide margins by which left wins urban districts)
C. Party fragmentation (if right more fragmented than
Individuals w/greater labour market risk more likely to support more social spending and welfare state generosity
Iversen and Soskice (2009)
Individuals w/greater risk of losing job more likely to demand higher unemployment benefits
Rehm (2011)
IMPACT OF ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS
- Initial choice may have been influenced by left strength
- But this doesn’t mean that now, since introduced, PR hasn’t independently reinforced left strength
Clark, Golder and Golder (2009)
Clark, Golder and Golder (2009)
IMPACT OF ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS
- Initial choice may have been influenced by left strength
- But this doesn’t mean that now, since introduced, PR hasn’t independently reinforced left strength
Policy feedback - employment protection and welfare benefits
- Individual risk much less important determinant of welfare state preferences in countries with:
(i) high employment protection
(ii) welfare benefits not dependent on employment status
Gingrich and Ansell (2012)
Ethnic heterogeneity and support for welfare spending
- Clear evidence in Sweden that ethnic heterogeneity negatively affects support for social welfare spending
- recent immigration had negative impact on support for universal welfare spending
Eger (2010)
- Both redistribution AND social insurance demands for welfare supported at individual-level
- Overall support for generous welfare states explained by correlation between labour market risk and low incomes
(a) High correlation – both groups broadly same people and overall electoral support for generous social welfare low
(b) Low correlation – 2 groups overlap less and support for generous social welfare is greater
Rehm, Hacker and Schlesinger (2012)
Empirical evidence that overall support for generous welfare states explained by correlation between labour market risk and low income levels?
Rehm, Hacker and Schlesinger (2012)
Pre-existing strength of left-wing may have influenced initial choice of electoral system
Boix (1999)
Boix (1999)
Pre-existing strength of left-wing may have influenced initial choice of electoral system
Iversen, Soskice and Cusack (2007)
ECONOMIC ORIGINS OF ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
- Right/centre-right parties controlled >50% parliamentary representation in almost all PR countries in last 100 years, yet almost no attempts to adopt majoritarian systems
- Indicates left strength may not be key reason for adoption of PR
- Instead, key to understanding electoral choice = differences in economic structures at end of 19th century
ECONOMIC ORIGINS OF ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
- Right/centre-right parties controlled >50% parliamentary representation in almost all PR countries in last 100 years, yet almost no attempts to adopt majoritarian systems
- Indicates left strength may not be key reason for adoption of PR
- Instead, key to understanding electoral choice = differences in economic structures at end of 19th century
Iversen, Soskice and Cusack (2007)
Cross-national correlation between belief that luck determines income and social welfare spending
Alesina and Glaeser (2004)
- POLITICAL SYSTEM:
(i) PR systems associated w/larger transfer spending in OECD
(ii) Proportionality (measure of % of average district’s vote needed to win seat) accounts for ~1/2 of US/European differences in welfare generosity
Alesina and Glaeser (2004)
Negative association between no. veto points and social security spending as % of GDP
Huber and Stephens (2001)
Structure of income distribution affects support for redistribution
- social distance = key determinant of redistribution preferences
- income a good proxy in absence of cross-cutting ethnic cleavages
- Empirical evidence – w/o cross-cutting ethnic cleavages, middle-income voters will empathise w/poor and support redistribution when income distance between middle/poor small relative to distance between middle/rich
Lupu and Pontusson (2011)
Korpi and Palme (2003)
Falls in replacement rates across OECD from 80s onwards, especially in UK
Falls in replacement rates across OECD from 80s onwards, especially in UK
Korpi and Palme (2003)
Castles (2004)
Welfare generosity stops growing around 1980 in OECD
Welfare generosity stops growing around 1980 in OECD
Castles (2004)
Evidence for welfare state retrenchment?
- Castles (2004)
(i) Welfare generosity stops growing around 1980 in OECD - Korpi and Palme (2003)
(i) Falls in replacement rates across OECD from 80s onwards, especially in UK
Why has welfare state spending as % of GDP continued to rise, despite supposed evidence of retrenchment?
- Demographic pressures - e.g. ageing population
2. Baumol’s disease - productivity grows far more slowly in services, so should expect rising spending as % of GDP
Rueda and Stegmueller (2016)
- PUZZLE - after controlling for material self-interest, great variation in redistribution preferences of rich remains
- REASON - rich in more unequal countries = more supportive of redistribution due to concern w/crime
- PUZZLE - after controlling for material self-interest, great variation in redistribution preferences of rich remains
- REASON - rich in more unequal countries = more supportive of redistribution due to concern w/crime
Rueda and Stegmueller (2016)
Kristov et al (1992)
Social affinity literature - individuals care more about well-being of others, the more they’re like themselves
Social affinity literature - individuals care more about well-being of others, the more they’re like themselves
Kristov et al (1992)
Taylor and Taylor-Gooby (2015)
UK WELFARE ATTITUDES:
- EVIDENCE - relatively little change in welfare attitudes in last 4 years
- CONTEXT - worse recession in decades + 5 years of government spending cuts
- IMPLICATION - remarkable stability of attitudes
UK WELFARE ATTITUDES:
- EVIDENCE - relatively little change in welfare attitudes in last 4 years
- CONTEXT - worse recession in decades + 5 years of government spending cuts
- IMPLICATION - remarkable stability of attitudes
Taylor and Taylor-Gooby (2015)
O’Grady (2017)
- DATA - Swiss panel data
- PUZZLE - individual preferences for redistribution + social spending remarkably stable
- FINDINGS:
A. Voters rely on long-run values in preference formation
B. Polarisation in preferences between income and risk groups due to:
(i) Ideological + economic socialisation in family
(ii) Early economic experiences
(iii) Occasional large changes in circumstance
C. Correlations between circumstances + preferences caused by:
(i) Enduring shocks
(ii) Low inter-generational mobility
(iii) Tendency of left-wing parents to be poorer
- DATA - Swiss panel data
- PUZZLE - individual preferences for redistribution + social spending remarkably stable
- FINDINGS:
A. Voters rely on long-run values in preference formation
B. Polarisation in preferences between income and risk groups due to:
(i) Ideological + economic socialisation in family
(ii) Early economic experiences
(iii) Occasional large changes in circumstance
C. Correlations between circumstances + preferences caused by:
(i) Enduring shocks
(ii) Low inter-generational mobility
(iii) Tendency of left-wing parents to be poorer
O’Grady (2017)
What long-run values do voters rely on when forming preferences over social spending and redistribution?
O’Grady (2017)
Polarisation in preferences between income and risk groups due to:
(i) Ideological + economic socialisation in family
(ii) Early economic experiences
(iii) Occasional large changes in circumstance
Curtice (2017)
BSA evidence from last 20 years:
- Voters’ priorities changed little
(i) Health service consistently = no. 1 priority
(ii) Meeting needs of unemployed consistent low priority - Important trends:
(i) Voters less keen on government becoming involved in needs of unemployed
(ii) Decreased urgency about spending on pensions and financial needs of elderly
(i) Reduced support for public spending cuts, likely in reaction post-crash austerity years
BSA evidence from last 20 years:
- Voters’ priorities changed little
(i) Health service consistently = no. 1 priority
(ii) Meeting needs of unemployed consistent low priority - Important trends:
(i) Voters less keen on government becoming involved in needs of unemployed
(ii) Decreased urgency about spending on pensions and financial needs of elderly
(i) Reduced support for public spending cuts, likely in reaction post-crash austerity years
Curtice (2017)
Key trends in British views about the role of government?
Curtice (2017)
Over last 20 years:
(i) Voters less keen on government becoming involved in needs of unemployed
(ii) Decreased urgency about spending on pensions and financial needs of elderly
(i) Reduced support for public spending cuts, likely in reaction post-crash austerity years
How have UK voters’ priorities changed in last 20 years?
Curtice (2017)
Voters’ priorities changed little
(i) Health service consistently = no. 1 priority
(ii) Meeting needs of unemployed consistent low priority
De Vries (2017)
- Benefit cheats judged more harshly than tax avoiders
2. Reason - possibly due to more negative attitude towards benefit claimants as a group
- Benefit cheats judged more harshly than tax avoiders
2. Reason - possibly due to more negative attitude towards benefit claimants as a group
De Vries (2017)
Why are those engaging in benefit fraud judged more harshly than tax avoiders?
De Vries (2017)
Reason - possibly due to more negative attitude towards benefit claimants as a group
Baldwin and Huber (2010)
ETHNIC GROUP INEQUALITY LOWERS PUBLIC GOOD PROVISION
- Strong + robust relationship between level of public goods provision and between-group inequality (income inequality between ethnic groups)
- Tests indicate BGI has causal impact on public goods provision, though likely to be 2-way relationship
- Relationship stronger in least-advanced democracies
ETHNIC GROUP INEQUALITY LOWERS PUBLIC GOOD PROVISION
- Strong + robust relationship between level of public goods provision and between-group inequality (income inequality between ethnic groups)
- Tests indicate BGI has causal impact on public goods provision, though likely to be 2-way relationship
- Relationship stronger in least-advanced democracies
Baldwin and Huber (2010)
Evidence that economic inequality between ethnic groups impacts public spending?
Baldwin and Huber (2010)
ETHNIC GROUP INEQUALITY LOWERS PUBLIC GOOD PROVISION
- Strong + robust relationship between level of public goods provision and between-group inequality (income inequality between ethnic groups)
- Tests indicate BGI has causal impact on public goods provision, though likely to be 2-way relationship
- Relationship stronger in least-advanced democracies
Fernandez and Jaime-Castillo (2018)
- FINDING - cross-national differences in class differences in pro-redistribution attitudes mostly explained by level of redistribution
- REASON - preferences of rich esp. sensitive to level of redistribution
(i) High levels of redistribution increase group consciousness among policy winners + losers
- FINDING - cross-national differences in class differences in pro-redistribution attitudes mostly explained by level of redistribution
- REASON - preferences of rich esp. sensitive to level of redistribution
(i) High levels of redistribution increase group consciousness among policy winners + losers
Fernandez and Jaime-Castillo (2018)
PR benefits left parties, leading to increased spending on welfare and education
Funk and Gathmann (2013)