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Can Choice in Welfare States Be Equitable?
Author(s) -
Greve Bent
Publication year - 2009
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.1467-9515.2009.00679.x
Subject(s) - welfare , equity (law) , public economics , economics , inequality , order (exchange) , intergenerational equity , welfare state , microeconomics , political science , law , market economy , finance , mathematical analysis , politics , biology , ecology , mathematics , sustainability
Whether choice is fine or dire for the welfare state is a question that cannot be answered theoretically. That is the conclusion of this article, which discusses conditions that must be fulfilled if choice or increased choice are not to be reflected in increased inequality in access to welfare services. The consequences of non‐decision and stress in relation to choice are touched upon. The implication of the analysis is that concrete, empirical analysis is important in order to ascertain whether the conditions for ensuring an informed choice without negative impact on equity in modern welfare states can be fulfilled.