Welfare state and mix

Question 1

Evidence of increasing UK social spending in recent decades

Answer 1

UK social spending as % of GDP:

1974 = 10%
1990 = 12%

Question 2

Evidence of increasing UK government spending in recent decades

Answer 2

UK government spending as % of GDP:

1978 = 41%
1994 = 45%
Today = under 40%

Question 3

UK government spending as % of GDP:

1978 = .....%
1994 = .....%
Today = ....%

Answer 3

UK government spending as % of GDP:

1978 = 41%
1994 = 45%
Today = under 40%

Question 4

UK social spending as % of GDP:

1974 = .....%
1990 = .....%

Answer 4

UK social spending as % of GDP:

1974 = 10%
1990 = 12%

Question 5

Logic of industrialisation argument for welfare state development

Answer 5

Industrialisation + urbanisation – caused wider family ties to weaken + new vulnerabilities, necessitating greater role for state social security

Question 6

‘Weak’ version of industrialisation argument

Answer 6

Industrialisation and its correlates necessary to account for welfare state expansion, but further factors needed to explain cross-national variation

Question 7

Korpi (1989)

Answer 7

1. Data - 18 OECD countries from 1930 onwards

2. Finding – left party participation in government = important factor in development of sickness insurance

Question 8

1. Data - 18 OECD countries from 1930 onwards

2. Finding – left party participation in government = important factor in development of sickness insurance

Answer 8

Korpi (1989)

Question 9

Huber and Stephens (2001)

Answer 9

Cumulative left control of government positively associated w/welfare generosity

Question 10

Cumulative left control of government positively associated w/welfare

Answer 10

Huber and Stephens (2001)

Question 11

Kersbergen and Vis (2014)

Answer 11

1. Socialist movement pushed for reforms in Germany and welfare state development under Bismarck = reaction to threat of working-class revolution
2. Marxist view of welfare state development as ‘riot insurance’ in capitalism

Question 12

1. Socialist movement pushed for reforms in Germany and welfare state development under Bismarck = reaction to threat of working-class revolution
2. Marxist view of welfare state development as ‘riot insurance’ in capitalism

Answer 12

Kersbergen and Vis (2014)

Question 13

Swenson (2002)

Answer 13

Major, enduring social policy developments supported by cross-class coalitions of capitalists and workers

Question 14

Major, enduring social policy developments supported by cross-class coalitions of capitalists and workers

Answer 14

Swenson (2002)

Question 15

Baldwin (1990)

Answer 15

Unique features of Nordic welfare states shaped by interests of agrarian middle classes neither to be excluded from benefits of social policy, nor bear excessive costs

Question 16

Unique features of Nordic welfare states shaped by interests of agrarian middle classes neither to be excluded from benefits of social policy, nor bear excessive costs

Answer 16

Baldwin (1990)

Question 17

1. Why might state provision be more equitable?

2. Response?

Answer 17

1. Access based on need (rights-based approach), not ability to pay
2. State can secure equity through financing and/or regulating welfare provision w/o itself being the provider need not provide itself
3. E.g. guarantee education for all using public funding, whilst contracting out actual provision to other organisations

Question 18

Milne (1987)

Answer 18

1. Evidence that services contracted out by NHS led to reduction in quality
2. Spending reductions achieved through lower quality or reduced amount of work

Question 19

NHS CONTRACTING REDUCED QUALITY OF PROVISION

1. Evidence that services contracted out by NHS led to reduction in quality
2. Spending reductions achieved through lower quality or reduced amount of work

Answer 19

Milne (1987)

Question 20

Evidence that NHS contracting out led to reduced quality of provision

Answer 20

Milne (1987)

1. Evidence that services contracted out by NHS led to reduction in quality
2. Spending reductions achieved through lower quality or reduced amount of work

Question 21

How does the aim of the welfare state impact desirability of state provision?

Answer 21

1. Rights-based approach - state provision might be best to guarantee universal access
2. Poverty reduction - blanket state provision may not be necessary and targeted subsidies at poor could potentially be more effective

Question 22

Marmor (1987)

Answer 22

Nursing homes consistently provide more cheaply by private sector

Question 23

Nursing homes consistently provide more cheaply by private sector

Answer 23

Marmor (1987)

Question 24

Evidence that, in certain areas, state may be a less effective provider of welfare services?

Answer 24

Marmor (1987)

Nursing homes consistently provide more cheaply by private sector

Question 25

How to define the voluntary sector?

Answer 25

Defined by key themes:

1. Independence
2. Non-profit
3. Voluntarism

Question 26

Advantages of voluntary sector welfare provision?

Answer 26

1. More flexible and responsive, with smaller agile organisations able to better respond to changing needs at local level (vs centralised bureaucratic state provision)
2. Social capital - voluntary associations created local networks of face-to-face interaction, building civic engagement, trust and norms of mutual support

Question 27

Disadvantage of voluntary sector welfare provision?

Answer 27

1. Uneven coverage

2. Unreliable funding

Question 28

Advantages of informal welfare provision?

Answer 28

1. Ethic of care (personal, loving, caring etc)

2. Free (saves government money…but what about massive opportunity cost + heavy individual costs?)

Question 29

Disadvantages of informal welfare provision

Answer 29

1. Less professional
2. Financial, personal and opportunity costs for individuals (huge impact on well-being)
3. Gender inequality of provision