European welfare states after the crisis: changing public attitudes
"The ‘conservative bias’ in social attitudes to welfare – entrenched support for the ‘traditional’ welfare state, promising higher pension payments and public expenditure on health – has been reinforced by the financial crisis, while public support for welfare state policies geared towards tack...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Institution: | ETUI-European Trade Union Institute |
| Format: | TEXT |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
London
2013
Policy Network |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19128730124919469129-european-welfare-states-after-.htm |
| Summary: | "The ‘conservative bias’ in social attitudes to welfare – entrenched support for the ‘traditional’ welfare state, promising higher pension payments and public expenditure on health – has been reinforced by the financial crisis, while public support for welfare state policies geared towards tackling ‘new’ social risks – related to structural changes in labour markets, demography, gender equality and families that traditional social protection systems are poorly equipped to negotiate – is relatively weak. This hardening of social attitudes towards growth-orientated, social investment policies in education, active labour markets, and family assistance occurs at a time when slower growth and productivity are accelerating the process of de-industrialisation in favour of the emerging powers. This paper draws lessons from quantitative public opinion surveys in three key EU member-states (France, Denmark and Britain) to inform debate on the future shape of welfare states after the financial crisis. It concludes that the biggest threat to social justice in Europe is not radical institutional change, but the ‘frozen’ welfare state landscapes where resistance to change is institutionalised, and major interest groups are able to define how welfare systems operate. There is a significant danger that growing inequalities in electoral participation might further entrench the welfare status quo and heighten the onset of intergenerational and distributional conflict." |
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| Physical Description: | 15 p. Digital |