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The Social Stratification of Social Risks: Class and Responsibility in the 'New' Welfare State

Author

Listed:
  • Olivier Pintelon

    (Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp)

  • Bea Cantillon

    (Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp)

  • Karel Van den Bosch

    (Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp)

  • Christopher T. Whelan

    (School of Sociology & Geary Institute, University College Dublin)

Abstract

Welfare states are said to have evolved over the course of the past twenty years towards a ‘social investment’ model of welfare, characterised by a focus on equality of opportunity and upward social mobility combined with greater emphasis on individual responsibility. More or less concurrently, under the mantra of ‘individualisation’, scepticism has grown with regard to the relevance of traditional stratification schemes. This paper sets out to ascertain whether social class, i.e. intergenerational background, (still) affects the occurrence of ‘social risks’. Using SILC 2005 data, it considers the impact of social class (of origin) on a relevant selection of social risks: unemployment, ill-health, living in a jobless household, single parenthood, temporary employment, and low-paid employment. The results provide clear evidence of a continuing influence of social class. On this basis, we argue that a one-sided focus on individual responsibility could open the door to new forms of marginalisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Olivier Pintelon & Bea Cantillon & Karel Van den Bosch & Christopher T. Whelan, 2011. "The Social Stratification of Social Risks: Class and Responsibility in the 'New' Welfare State," Working Papers 201123, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucd:wpaper:201123
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Leoni, 2016. "Social investment: A guiding principle for welfare state adjustment after the crisis?," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 43(4), pages 831-858, November.
    2. 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

    Ireland; Austerity; Fiscal Policy; Monetary Policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E00 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - General
    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy

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