Welfare State Regimes and Subjective Well-Being: A Cross-National Study

In: International journal of public opinion research, Band 10, Heft 1, S. 2-24

Abstract

The relationship between unemployment & subjective well-being in social democratic, conservative, & liberal welfare state regimes is investigated. Three hypotheses are tested: (1) Citizens in social democratic regimes perceive unemployment as less threatening than in liberal & conservative regimes. (2) Citizens in social democratic governments demonstrate greater support for state intervention against unemployment. 3) Unemployment will affect citizens' subjective well-being less in social democratic regimes. National & international data, 1972-1996, somewhat support hypotheses 2 & 3; however, no evidence was discovered to support hypothesis 1. It is concluded that the microfoundations of welfare state regime typologies, particularly that introduced by Gosta Esping-Andersen (1990), are problematized by the study's results; consequently, analyses of welfare state regimes should privilege public views, attitudes, & behavior. 7 Tables, 2 Figures, 42 References. Adapted from the source document.