Overview

This important book builds a bridge between the literature on popular welfare deservingness and social welfare policies. It examines the relationship between the two, exploring the close correspondence between public opinion and public policy that has been present throughout the history of social welfare. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data in a mixed-methods approach, Tijs Laenen not only investigates popular attitudes towards some of the most contested and 'least-deserving' policy target groups, but also towards groups alleged to be highly deserving of social welfare. The chapters also examine how deservingness opinions relate to public support for the social obligations of welfare recipients, for example job-seeking requirements for the unemployed, which has often been overlooked in the field. Valuable insights are offered into the relationship between welfare deservingness and policy on a cross-national basis, making this a valuable read for sociology, political science and social policy scholars seeking a more in-depth understanding of cross-national differences in welfare policies and welfare attitudes. Policy makers and administrators will also find the study of both the macro-level of welfare regimes and the meso-level of welfare schemes useful.

Full Product Details

Author:   Tijs Laenen
Publisher:   Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Imprint:   Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
ISBN:  

9781839101885

ISBN 10:   1839101881
Pages:   272
Publication Date:   21 July 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

Contents: Foreword Part I General Introduction, Theoretical Framework And Methodological Framework 1. Introduction: The Interaction Between Welfare Deservingness And Welfare Policy 2. Theoretical Framework: Deservingness, Policy Feedback And Policy Responsiveness 3. Methodological Framework: Welfare Support, Deservingness And Welfare State Policies Part II Empirical Chapters 4. A Universal Rank Order Of Deservingness? Geographical,Temporal And Social-Structural Comparisons 5. Public Support For The Social Rights And Social Obligations Of The Unemployed: Two Sides Of The Same Coin? 6. Why Deservingness Theory Needs Qualitative Research. Comparing Focus Group Discussions On Social Welfare In Three Welfare Regimes 7. Do Institutions Matter? The Interplay Between Income Benefit Design, Popular Perceptions And Support For Social Welfare 8. How Popular Deservingness Perceptions Mediate The Link Between Unemployment Policies And Their Public Support 9. The Absence Of Public Resistance Against The Retrenchment Of Unemployment Insurance In Denmark And The Netherlands. The Role Of Deservingness Perceptions Among Welfare Constituencies Part III General Conclusion And Discussion 10. Conclusion: What The Book Contributes And What It Leaves Open For Future Research References Index

Reviews

'Welfare states are not just cold arrangements , but rely on solidaristic commitments of citizens. Tijs Laenen (and chapter coauthors) makes a fresh and empirically sound contribution to the issue, who deserves what based on the framework of deservingness. The strengths of the book lie not only in the conceptual comprehensiveness, but in the insightful and well-crafted combination of quantitative and qualitative data.' -- Steffen Mau, Humboldt University zu Berlin, Germany 'A valuable book, that enhances understanding of welfare deservingness.' -- Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent, UK

Author Information

Tijs Laenen, Postdoctoral Researcher, KU Leuven, Belgium and Tilburg University, the Netherlands

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