Welfare States

What is a welfare state?

"well being" --- a set of policies/bureaucracies that exist to administer. To provide security for the people. Policies that protect citizens against the risk to their well being that are associated with the market

Who first created the German welfare state? Why?

Bismark, in response to the socialist movement. He hoped that meeting a few of their demands would quiet them, but it ended up leading to more reforms.

What is decommodification?

Decommodification is when this is reversed and people no longer rely on their ability to sell their labor to survive.

What socio-political alliance helped push for a universal welfare state in Sweden?

Early in the creation of the Swedish welfare state, the "red-green alliance" between farmers (the rural class) and social democratic politicians (who wanted the support of the farmers) helped push the universal welfare state. -Farmers supported the social democratic politicians in exchange for farm subsites

What role does the United States' specific ethnic and racial history play in the relatively limited scope of its welfare state?

Leaders in the South didn't want to pass generous welfare laws because they didn't want non-whites to benefit.

What are the three types of welfare states identified by Esping-Anderson?

Liberal Welfare State (US) Survival. Allow market to function. Social Democratic Welfare State (Sweden): Equality, decommodification (protect individual against market failures). Conservative Welfare State: Protect and Promote Stability and Order

What other cultural factors help explain the United States' limited welfare state?

The idea of the 'American Dream' is still very prevalent. It means that people still think that one can work themselves into higher social classes, despite the US being one of the least socially mobile countries. (british history, distrust of gov't)

Finally, how does the United States' systems of checks and balances and two-party politics help explain its welfare state?

There are a large number of veto points--points that a welfare bill can be stopped. Also, politicians have a relatively few number of years before they face reelection, which means they have to worry about short term results rather than long term solutions.

Why do welfare states exist? Why are they a key part of most advanced capitalist countries?

Welfare State exist to protect citizens against the risk to their well being that are associated with the market economy

What is the main goal of each type of welfare state?

liberal: Helping to survive conservative: Care about the whole; social: protect and promote social stability and order. Create equality for every citizen

In what country can we clearly see this type of welfare state?

liberal: USA/Liberal conservative: Nationalism/Germany social: Marxist/ Sweden

What type of welfare benefits (means tested, universal, earnings-related or employment linked) are most common in each type of welfare state?

liberal: means tested conservative: employment linked/earnings related social: universal, very generous