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Welfare State Decommodification: Concepts, Operationalizations and Long-term Trends

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  • Olivier Pintelon

Abstract

Welfare state decommodification is one of the central concepts in the comparative study of welfare states. Mainstream literature on the subject has however two important shortcomings: (1) it neglects the decommodifying potential of labour market institutions (‘in-work decommodification’) and (2) it is mainly occupied with cross-national variation – not longitudinal change. This paper presents indicators of ‘benefit decommodification’ and ‘in-work decommodification’ as to determine whether long-term trends exist – going back to the early 1980s. On the whole, no generic trends are found, but some clear country clusters can be distinguished. Most remarkable is the substantial recommodification in most Nordic countries and the Netherlands. The Anglo-Saxon EU member states – on the other hand – are characterized by increasing welfare state decommodification since the mid-1980s, following a short period of substantial retrenchment in the early 1980s. In sum, we find indications of modest convergence, especially among EU countries. Besides, we observe that high ‘benefit decommodification’ is consistent with high ‘in-work decommodification’ – although the longitudinal relationship is less outspoken.

Suggested Citation

  • Olivier Pintelon, 2012. "Welfare State Decommodification: Concepts, Operationalizations and Long-term Trends," Working Papers 1210, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp.
    • Handle: RePEc:hdl:wpaper:1210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Giulia M Dotti Sani & Matteo Luppi, 2021. "Absence from Work after the Birth of the First Child and Mothers’ Retirement Incomes: A Comparative Analysis of 10 European Countries," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 35(3), pages 470-489, June.
    2. Munoz de Bustillo Llorente Rafael & FERNANDEZ MACIAS Enrique & GONZALEZ VAZQUEZ Ignacio, 2020. "Universality in Social Protection: An Inquiry about its Meaning and Measurement," JRC Research Reports JRC122953, Joint Research Centre.
    3. Thomas Leoni, 2015. "Welfare State Adjustment to New Social Risks in the Post-crisis Scenario. A Review with Focus on the Social Investment Perspective. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 89," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 57899, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    benefit decommodification; convergence; in-work decommodification; retrenchment; welfare state restructuring;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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