Overview

This edited collection uses democratic forums to study what people want from the welfare state in five European countries. The forum method yields new insights into how people frame social issues, their priorities and acceptable solutions. This is the first time democratic forums have been used as a research tool in this field. The contributors’ research show that most people recognize growing inequality, population ageing, paying for health care and pensions, social care and immigration as areas where the welfare state faces real challenges. The most striking findings are the high level of support across all countries for social investment, and the way justifications for this vary between welfare state regimes. The authors also explore key areas such as immigration and intergenerational differences. Attitudes, Aspirations and Welfare will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines including politics, social policy and sociology, as wellas policy-makers.    

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9783030093273

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Reviews

This volume offers convincing arguments for the importance of consensus. In a context of declining solidarity and rising populism, and with past social achievements under threat, this is a timely and necessary message. Policy-makers, employers' organizations, trade unions and academics, would benefit from reading the feasible and plausible recommendations and insights of this book. (Hedva Sarfati, International Social Security Review, Vol. 72 (2), 2019)

Author Information

Peter Taylor-Gooby is Research Professor of Social Policy at the University of Kent, UK. Benjamin Leruth is Assistant Professor of Politics and Public Administration at the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, Australia. 

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