The Three Political Economies of the Welfare State
Author(s)
Esping-Anderson, Gosta
Abstract
A sound analysis and comparison of welfare states requires a clear understanding of both the origins and characteristics a welfare state. However, the two dominant approaches for explaining these origins are inadequate; a third attempt, based on the class mobilization theory, is also unsatisfactory. In addition, the practice of defining welfare states solely based on their level of social expenditures is misdirected. By shifting the focus from expenditures to social citizenship, and modifying the class mobilization approach to account for coalition structures and institutional legacies, a more interactive and accurate model of welfare states can be formed. This model allows welfare states to be viewed not as linearly distributed systems (advocating more or less welfare spending), but rather as consisting of specific regime type clusters.
