Welfare state and mix Flashcards
Evidence of increasing UK social spending in recent decades
UK social spending as % of GDP:
1974 = 10% 1990 = 12%
Evidence of increasing UK government spending in recent decades
UK government spending as % of GDP:
1978 = 41% 1994 = 45% Today = under 40%
UK government spending as % of GDP:
1978 = .....% 1994 = .....% Today = ....%
UK government spending as % of GDP:
1978 = 41% 1994 = 45% Today = under 40%
UK social spending as % of GDP:
1974 = .....% 1990 = .....%
UK social spending as % of GDP:
1974 = 10% 1990 = 12%
Logic of industrialisation argument for welfare state development
Industrialisation + urbanisation – caused wider family ties to weaken + new vulnerabilities, necessitating greater role for state social security
‘Weak’ version of industrialisation argument
Industrialisation and its correlates necessary to account for welfare state expansion, but further factors needed to explain cross-national variation
Korpi (1989)
- Data - 18 OECD countries from 1930 onwards
2. Finding – left party participation in government = important factor in development of sickness insurance
- Data - 18 OECD countries from 1930 onwards
2. Finding – left party participation in government = important factor in development of sickness insurance
Korpi (1989)
Huber and Stephens (2001)
Cumulative left control of government positively associated w/welfare generosity
Cumulative left control of government positively associated w/welfare
Huber and Stephens (2001)
Kersbergen and Vis (2014)
- Socialist movement pushed for reforms in Germany and welfare state development under Bismarck = reaction to threat of working-class revolution
- Marxist view of welfare state development as ‘riot insurance’ in capitalism
- Socialist movement pushed for reforms in Germany and welfare state development under Bismarck = reaction to threat of working-class revolution
- Marxist view of welfare state development as ‘riot insurance’ in capitalism
Kersbergen and Vis (2014)
Swenson (2002)
Major, enduring social policy developments supported by cross-class coalitions of capitalists and workers
Major, enduring social policy developments supported by cross-class coalitions of capitalists and workers
Swenson (2002)
Baldwin (1990)
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
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
Baldwin (1990)
- Why might state provision be more equitable?
2. Response?
- Access based on need (rights-based approach), not ability to pay
- State can secure equity through financing and/or regulating welfare provision w/o itself being the provider need not provide itself
- E.g. guarantee education for all using public funding, whilst contracting out actual provision to other organisations
Milne (1987)
- Evidence that services contracted out by NHS led to reduction in quality
- Spending reductions achieved through lower quality or reduced amount of work
NHS CONTRACTING REDUCED QUALITY OF PROVISION
- Evidence that services contracted out by NHS led to reduction in quality
- Spending reductions achieved through lower quality or reduced amount of work
Milne (1987)
Evidence that NHS contracting out led to reduced quality of provision
Milne (1987)
- Evidence that services contracted out by NHS led to reduction in quality
- Spending reductions achieved through lower quality or reduced amount of work
How does the aim of the welfare state impact desirability of state provision?
- Rights-based approach - state provision might be best to guarantee universal access
- Poverty reduction - blanket state provision may not be necessary and targeted subsidies at poor could potentially be more effective
Marmor (1987)
Nursing homes consistently provide more cheaply by private sector
Nursing homes consistently provide more cheaply by private sector
Marmor (1987)
Evidence that, in certain areas, state may be a less effective provider of welfare services?
Marmor (1987)
Nursing homes consistently provide more cheaply by private sector
How to define the voluntary sector?
Defined by key themes:
- Independence
- Non-profit
- Voluntarism
Advantages of voluntary sector welfare provision?
- More flexible and responsive, with smaller agile organisations able to better respond to changing needs at local level (vs centralised bureaucratic state provision)
- Social capital - voluntary associations created local networks of face-to-face interaction, building civic engagement, trust and norms of mutual support
Disadvantage of voluntary sector welfare provision?
- Uneven coverage
2. Unreliable funding
Advantages of informal welfare provision?
- Ethic of care (personal, loving, caring etc)
2. Free (saves government money…but what about massive opportunity cost + heavy individual costs?)
Disadvantages of informal welfare provision
- Less professional
- Financial, personal and opportunity costs for individuals (huge impact on well-being)
- Gender inequality of provision
