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Questions and Answers
What is a key characteristic of a universal welfare state?
Which model aligns broadly with the liberal welfare model?
What influences the willingness of citizens to support a universal welfare policy?
What is a primary focus of substantive justice in the context of welfare?
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What type of logic connects political and moral considerations in welfare policies?
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Which type of welfare model encompasses the entire population but divides social programs by groups?
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In the context of social norms, what is typically weakened under a universal welfare policy?
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What is one way the political institutions impact a universal welfare policy?
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Which belief significantly impacts citizens' preparedness to withhold taxes?
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What is a notable shift in modern social science regarding citizen engagement?
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What do the figures in the table represent regarding public expenditures?
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Which social policy is perceived most positively according to the data?
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What aspect of social norms is considered essential for policy reproduction?
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In the context of welfare, what does 'contingent consent' suggest?
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Which category had the most negative perception in the data provided?
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Which of the following social policies received a positive net rating in the data?
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What is the primary focus of substantive justice as described in the welfare state context?
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What is a key characteristic of a universal welfare state?
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How do social norms influence the functioning of the state?
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What principle underlies the notion of equal concern and respect in social policy?
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What does the theory about consent aim to elucidate regarding welfare policies?
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Which concept is directly linked to the moral logic of the welfare state?
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What does the cycle of state illegitimacy relate to in the context of welfare?
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What does the term 'basic capabilities' refer to in the context of the universal welfare state?
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What did Karl Marx mistakenly predict about the working class?
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What is a primary reason for the failure of wealth redistribution mentioned in the content?
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According to the theory presented, how should social-democratic parties design welfare programs to gain voter support?
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What do Walter Korpi and Joakim Palme emphasize regarding taxation and redistribution?
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What has been the effect on the traditional voting group for social-democratic parties since the Second World War?
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Study Notes
The Universal Welfare State
- The universal welfare state provides benefits and services to the entire population, regardless of their needs.
- The Swedish welfare system is an example of the universal approach.
- A key feature is the high tax burden.
- The universal model aims to provide basic capabilities and ensure equal treatment for all citizens.
- Providing universal services requires strong institutions and a robust social contract.
- The universal welfare state is built on the idea of substantive justice, ensuring a fair and just distribution of resources.
Normative and Political Logics
- The acceptance of a universal welfare state depends on both political and moral considerations.
- The institutions that govern the policy should be designed to foster a sense of fairness and legitimacy which are essential for citizens' support.
- Social norms play a vital role in shaping people's views on state legitimacy.
- Citizens' willingness to pay taxes is influenced by beliefs about the morality of other citizens, rather than individual self-interest.
Public Opinion and the Universal Welfare State
- Public opinion surveys reveal that citizens in Sweden generally endorse higher spending on services such as education and social assistance.
- Citizens are more supportive of increased spending on universal services that benefit everyone as opposed to targeted programs that benefit specific groups.
The Moral Logic of the Welfare State
- The moral logic of the universal welfare state rests on the principles of equal concern and respect.
- This means treating all citizens fairly and providing them with basic capabilities to lead autonomous lives.
- The universal approach avoids discriminating between "deserving" and "undeserving" citizens, ensuring equal access to resources.
Universal vs. Selective Welfare Systems
- Universal welfare systems, like flat-rate pensions or child allowances, are simpler to implement than selective programs because they don't require extensive eligibility verification.
- Selective welfare programs require a two-step eligibility process: determining whether an individual is eligible for support and determining the amount of support they receive.
- This leads to more administrative costs in selective systems.
- Selective programs require significant resources to check up on clients and officials, while universal programs don't have this issue.
- Selective systems often suffer from perceived legitimacy issues, as even with small instances of cheating or fraud, the media tends to focus on them, undermining public trust in the system.
- The risk of arbitrary treatment of clients in the implementation stage of selective programs further erodes public support.
Procedural Justice and Public Perception
- Public perception of procedural justice plays a significant role in determining support for social safety nets.
- The media often focuses on cases of cheating or fraud, which undermine public trust in even well-intentioned programs.
- Even with evidence of effective use, public perception of efficiency and effectiveness affects approval of tax increases.
Contingent Consent and Just Distribution of Burdens
- Contingent consent theory suggests that citizens are willing to support programs they may not personally benefit from, as long as they believe others are fairly contributing.
- This means that ensuring a perceived fair distribution of burdens is crucial for maintaining public support for social policy.
- Selective programs raise concerns about the fair allocation of burdens, leading to lower levels of social solidarity.
- Public support for universal systems increases, as citizens perceive them as requiring everyone to contribute, fostering a sense of shared collective responsibility.
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Description
Explore the concepts behind the universal welfare state, including its features, political logics, and examples such as the Swedish system. Understand the balance between social services, taxation, and the principles of equality and justice that underpin these welfare models.
