Education state, welfare capitalism regimes, and politics

Abstract:

Esping-Andersen’s welfare state capitalism typology can be extended by including education as one component of the welfare regime. An analysis shows that Liberal welfare regimes put more relative effort into the education state compared with their lower levels of welfare state spending and this acts as a kind of functional substitute for welfare state spending. This pattern is consistent with Liberalism’s emphasis on equality of opportunity over equality of outcomes. In contrast, Social Democratic and Conservative welfare regime countries put less effort into accumulated education investment compared with their welfare state spending. A number of political factors shape this outcome. Greater Left party support tends to expand both welfare state spending and accumulated education investment. Stronger unions tend to expand overall welfare state spending and reduce accumulated education investment. Greater Center party support leaves accumulated education investment unaffected but raises overall welfare state spending. More Catholicism in a country leaves overall welfare state spending unaffected but tends to lower accumulated education investment.