1. Convergence in Social Welfare Systems: From Evidence to Explanations.
- Author
-
Bouget, Denis
- Subjects
ECONOMIC convergence ,PUBLIC welfare policy ,QUALITY of life ,WELFARE state -- Social aspects ,SOCIAL indicators ,TECHNOLOGICAL progress ,SOCIAL policy ,GOVERNMENT policy ,SOCIAL security - Abstract
After the Second World War. the view that people of every nation would he entitled to experience rising standards of living pervaded all corners of the globe. Convergence was seen as a positive way of achieving a Golden Age and a peaceful and affluent Utopia, through modernisation and technical progress. Within this general belief, the development of national social welfare systems in Europe in the postwar period appears to be the outcome of autonomous national processes. The construction of Europe, which imposed common rules in many areas, was nonetheless consistent with the national development of social welfare systems within each national culture. The idea of a common system of social protection has always been linked to European political and economic construction, which was expected to create a more cohesive society. Reference is made constantly to convergence as a catching-up process in the comparative evaluation of national social policies, but the implementation of cm ambitious European system of social protection and the creation of harmonised national welfare systems have always proved to he impossible. The paper focuses on two specific topics. Firstly, it examines attempts to quantify' convergence among EU and OECD countries at the macro-economic level, using social indicators to assess the convergence or divergence of social expenditure. The evidence of convergence is shown to be ambiguous due to a number of methodological problems. Secondly, two main interpretations of convergence are examined: economic forces and legal frameworks. The paper shows that the analysis of national trajectories of social expenditure and the link with economic development can enrich the analysis of convergence or divergence in social protection. Even if the maturation or reform of national social policies explains the origins of increases in social expenditure, macro-economic pressures, or constraints (globalisation. Single Market), on public expenditure can fuel certain type of convergence. In all the developed countries, social welfare systems are based on national legal frameworks. A goal of social Europe is not only to work towards European solidarity bttt also to build common social rights throughout Europe. Convergence of national social welfare systems can, therefore, be interpreted as a component in a general process of convergence in law within the developed countries, especially within Europe. However, common explanations of convergence in social welfare systems often neglect elements of divergence. They, therefore, conceal the complexity of the process and very often underestimate the full extent of divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF