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...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Diamond, Patrick, Lodge, Guy
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
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author Diamond, Patrick
Lodge, Guy
author_facet Diamond, Patrick
Lodge, Guy
collection Library items
description "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."
format TEXT
id 19128730124919469129_196ea7746207457284d9272c8ad64fbb
institution ETUI-European Trade Union Institute
is_hierarchy_id 19128730124919469129_196ea7746207457284d9272c8ad64fbb
is_hierarchy_title European welfare states after the crisis: changing public attitudes
language English
physical 15 p.
Digital
publishDate 2013
publisher London
Policy Network
spellingShingle Diamond, Patrick
Lodge, Guy
economic recession
European social model
public interest
welfare state
European welfare states after the crisis: changing public attitudes
thumbnail https://www.labourline.org/Image_prev.jpg?Archive=111991393917
title European welfare states after the crisis: changing public attitudes
topic economic recession
European social model
public interest
welfare state
url https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19128730124919469129-european-welfare-states-after-.htm