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States of Welfare: A Conceptual Challenge
Author(s) -
VeitWilson John
Publication year - 2000
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 - 10.1111/1467-9515.00175
Subject(s) - citation , social policy , welfare , social welfare , sociology , newcastle upon tyne , positive economics , political science , economics , law , economic history
A major problem hindering rigorous analysis in social policy is the diverse and imprecise meanings attached to the term "welfare state". In widespread usage the term has become emptied of all explanatory meaning and is used as a synonym for modern industrial states, all of which provide welfare for some of their inhabitants. The converse of the term (what modern industrial state is not a welfare state?) is rarely if ever addressed. In an attempt to encourage debate on the development of productive theory, the paper therefore discusses issues surrounding a discriminating definition of "welfare states" and points to former assumptions that they "ensure a minimum real income for all", to distinguish them from unwelfare states which benefit some but not all. It suggests a research agenda to provide empirical data which would enable welfare states to be identified and classified in terms of the effectiveness of their policies and provisions.