Welfare retrenchment under left and right government leadership : towards a consolidated framework of analysis?
Document Type
Book chapter
Source Publication
Social policy review, 24 : Analysis and debate in social policy, 2012
Publication Date
1-1-2012
First Page
137
Last Page
163
Publisher
Policy Press
Keywords
Welfare retrenchment, Blame avoidance, Prospect theory, Partisan competition, Veto players
Abstract
This chapter aims to add to the literature on welfare retrenchment by consolidating prospect theoretical, party competition and veto player explanations into one framework of analysis. It tests this framework against comparative historical evidence of four Western European democracies, namely Denmark, France, Germany and the Netherlands. It suggests answers to the questions ‘why’, ‘when’ and ‘how’ policymakers engage in welfare retrenchment are indeed best considered jointly: looking at the ‘why’ question through ‘losses domains’ enables us to identify governments that are more likely to engage in “treacherous” welfare retrenchment, but falls short of telling us much about possible stumbling blocks to reform in political systems with multiple constitutional constraints. Considering party competition and particularly the strength of Left parties helps us to understand ‘when’ policymakers are likely to engage in unpopular welfare retrenchment, but fails to illuminate ‘how’ – or the mechanisms through which – welfare retrenchments are achieved, namely consensus seeking.
DOI
10.1332/policypress/9781447304470.003.0008
Publisher Statement
Copyright © The Policy Press/Social Policy Association 2012
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Additional Information
ISBN of the source publication: 9781447304470
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Kühner, S. (2012). Welfare retrenchment under left and right government leadership: Towards a consolidated framework of analysis? In M. Kilkey, G. Ramia, & K. Farnsworth (Eds.), Social policy review, 24: Analysis and debate in social policy, 2012 (pp. 137-163). Bristol: Policy Press. doi: 10.1332/policypress/9781447304470.003.0008