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Denmark: Universal or Not So Universal Welfare State
Author(s) -
Greve Bent
Publication year - 2004
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/j.1467-9515.2004.00383.x
Subject(s) - optimal distinctiveness theory , welfare state , danish , social security , unemployment , welfare , economics , state (computer science) , core (optical fiber) , flexicurity , labour economics , political science , market economy , economic growth , law , materials science , algorithm , politics , computer science , composite material , psychotherapist , psychology , linguistics , philosophy
This article questions whether or not Denmark is still a universal welfare state. It does so by first offering a comparative‐based analysis of the Nordic countries on central welfare state parameters. Second, the article utilizes a case‐based analysis in respect of three core areas of the Danish welfare state—pensions, unemployment and early retirement benefit—to assess the distinctiveness of the Danish model. The article concludes that, notwithstanding the Danish model is more mixed today than it used to be, it continues to be distinct in areas such as equality, full employment, a high level of spending on social security and an active labour market policy.