Premium
The divergent evolution of East Asian welfare states: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore
Author(s) -
Nam Yunmin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
asian politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1943-0787
pISSN - 1943-0779
DOI - 10.1111/aspp.12557
Subject(s) - east asia , welfare , competition (biology) , democratization , politics , development economics , economics , globalization , economic interventionism , political science , social welfare , government (linguistics) , socioeconomic status , china , market economy , democracy , sociology , population , linguistics , ecology , philosophy , demography , law , biology
Existing regime approaches characterize East Asian welfare states as possessing low levels of government intervention and investment in social welfare. However, democratization in the 1980s changed the socioeconomic structures of East Asian countries––leading them to rethink their welfare commitments. The late 1990s financial crisis and globalization also accelerated the reorganization of their welfare systems. Using the cases of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, this article examines the diverse pathways of welfare development in this region. East Asian countries adopted more inclusive and redistributive welfare systems during periods of intense inter‐party political competition. On the other hand, amid less political competition, they either retained minimal welfare provisions or retrenched welfare.