In which way can the Esping-Andersen theory help us into doing a comparative analysis of the European social systems?
- A coherent model which allows comparison.
- The main tool for measurement in social policy and social welfare analysis.
- Esping Andersen's model.
- The fact that the welfare state as a system of stratification has been neglected.
- The only way to equality and justice is a minimal state intervention.
- Empirical validation despite some weaknesses.
- The concept of de-commodification.
- The method of calculation of overall index scores.
- Esping Andersen's typology.
Europe is facing major changes at the beginning of the 21st century. Many consider the 19th century as savage industrialization’s one. Liberalism largely evolved in the 20th century as evidenced by the fantastic pace of growth of welfare state in many countries in the 1960s and the 1970s. Indeed, in the period following the Second World War, providing welfare to citizens became a fundamental feature of western statehood. Immediately after the war, a new social spirit dominated Europe and affected all social classes. This was largely due to the sense of purpose that developed during the war and a revulsion against the irresponsible, decadent and depression-ridden interwar period. Therefore, social expenditures increased rapidly and traditional relief systems that provided assistance only to the most needy of populations were transformed into comprehensive systems of universal benefits through the welfare state. Marshall, writing in the 1950’s, was the first to understand this was an inevitable step in the natural progression of states’ relations to their citizens.
[...] Bibliography Books: Ferréol, Gilles; Sociologie, Cours, Méthodes, Applications; Bréal 2004 Esping Andersen, Gosta; The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism; Polity Press 1990 Esping Andersen, Gosta; Why we Need a New Welfare State; Oxford University Press Taylor-Gooby, Peter; Ideas and Welfare State Reform in Western Europe; Palgrave MacMillan 2005 Armingeon, Klaus and Bonoli, Giuliano; The Politics of Post-Industrial Welfare States, Adapting post-war social policies to new social risks; Routledge 2006 Katsaros, Thomas; The Development of The Welfare State in The Western World; University Press of America 1995 Articles: Kus, Basak; Neoliberalism, Institutional Change and the Welfare State: The Case of Britain and France; International Journal of Comparative Sociology; [...]
[...] Esping-Andersen presents in his major work combined scores of de-commodification for the three most important social-welfare programs, it is to say pensions, sickness, and unemployment cash benefits. These scores summarize an array of variables that illustrate the ease with which an average person can opt out of the market: the prohibitiveness of conditions for eligibility, the strength of in-built disincentives, and the degree to which benefits approximate normal expected earning-levels. The overall scores are weighted by the percent of the relevant probability that any given person will possess the right to a transfer. [...]
[...] The aim of this short paper is to understand Esping-Andersen’s comparative method and to explain in what matter it allows us leading a comparative analysis of European welfare states. It will then empirically illustrate this thesis to determine in what matter Esping-Andersen’s comparison is relevant. It must be mentioned that the first Esping-Andersen’s typology was then completed by Esping-Andersen himself, especially with a distinction between familialistic and de-familialised care systems. However, given the limited size of this paper, I have deliberately decided only to concentrate on the first typology which is at the heart of his analysis. [...]