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European Welfare Futures: The Views of Key Influentials in Six European Countries on Likely Developments in Social Policy
Author(s) -
TaylorGooby Peter
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
social policy and administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1467-9515
pISSN - 0144-5596
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9515.00034
Subject(s) - convergence (economics) , welfare state , maturity (psychological) , welfare , economics , competition (biology) , futures contract , politics , european union , social welfare , public economics , social policy , european social model , political science , international economics , market economy , macroeconomics , finance , ecology , biology , law
The welfare state, having reached maturity in most European countries, faces challenges from economic, social and political developments. Some studies argue that common pressures are likely to evoke similar responses; others suggest that the differences between welfare regimes both permit and require different policies. It is also suggested that the single European market will require convergence in tax regimes, social provision and entitlements to ensure fairer competition and to prevent “social dumping”. Analysis of data from a survey of politicians, representatives of business, trade unions, civil servants and others shows some convergence in the recognition of problems in welfare policy and in ideas about finance. However, debate about the response to similar issues often differs, according to the detail of institutional structure and the pattern of interests it produces.