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The Vicious Circle of Cutback Policies: Citizens' Attitudes Toward Cutbacks in Finnish Welfare Services
Author(s) -
Johanson JanErik,
Mattila Mikko
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
scandinavian political studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.65
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-9477
pISSN - 0080-6757
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9477.1994.tb00150.x
Subject(s) - virtuous circle and vicious circle , argument (complex analysis) , welfare , service (business) , public service , public assistance , public welfare , quality (philosophy) , production (economics) , business , public economics , public administration , political science , economics , market economy , marketing , macroeconomics , biochemistry , chemistry , philosophy , epistemology
In most western countries, public services have been the target of cur‐backs during the past few years. It is often argued that support for a strong welfare slate has declined. In this article, attitudes towards public services in Finland are examined. Factors affecting the willingness to accept cuts were studied using a structural equation model and correspondence analysis. The analysis revealed that piecemeal deterioration in public services can form a vicious circle. The lower the quality of public services, the more citizens are willing to accept cuts in them. The results also lend some support to the argument that the new middle classes are most willing to see market‐based options implemented in service production.