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The European Social Model and the United States

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  • Jens Alber

    (Social Science Research Center Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

The notion of a European social model assumes that European societies have certain features in common that distinguish them from the United States. Analysing longitudinal data on the dimensions of state, economy and society three findings stand out: (1) for most indicators the range of variation within the European Union is bigger than the gap between Europe and the United States; (2) counter to the idea of policy convergence, differences in the developmental trajectories of countries with different institutional arrangements persist; (3) despite having extended welfare states similar to those of Continental European countries, Scandinavian nations have performed as well as the Anglo-Saxon countries in terms of employment and growth dynamics. Hence there are not only different social models in Europe but also different pathways to success.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Alber, 2006. "The European Social Model and the United States," European Union Politics, , vol. 7(3), pages 393-419, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:7:y:2006:i:3:p:393-419
    DOI: 10.1177/1465116506066272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Willem Adema & Maxime Ladaique, 2005. "Net Social Expenditure, 2005 Edition: More Comprehensive Measures of Social Support," OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers 29, OECD Publishing.
    2. Scharpf, Fritz W., 2000. "The viability of advanced welfare states in the international economy. Vulnerabilities and options," European Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(3), pages 399-425, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Luis Moreno, 2010. "Welfare Mix, CSR and Social Citizenship," Working Papers 1005, Instituto de Políticas y Bienes Públicos (IPP), CSIC.
    2. Schulz-Nieswandt, Frank, 2010. "The dynamics of European definition policy of health and social services as services of general (economic) interests," ZögU - Zeitschrift für öffentliche und gemeinwirtschaftliche Unternehmen, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 33(1), pages 31-43.
    3. Tomas Berglund & Bengt Furåker, 2016. "Employment protection regulation, trade unions and tenure of employment: An analysis in 23 European countries," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(5-6), pages 492-512, November.
    4. Sharon Baute & Bart Meuleman & Koen Abts & Marc Swyngedouw, 2018. "Measuring Attitudes Towards Social Europe: A Multidimensional Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 137(1), pages 353-378, May.
    5. Hermann, Christoph, 2013. "Crisis, structural reform and the dismantling of the European Social Model(s)," IPE Working Papers 26/2013, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
    6. Tomasz Grzegorz Grosse, 2011. "Low Carbon Economic Policy In Poland: An Example Of The Impact Of Europeanization," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 6(1), pages 9-39, March.
    7. Humer Alois, 2014. "Researching Social Services of General Interest: an Analytical Framework Derived from Underlying Policy Systems," European Spatial Research and Policy, Sciendo, vol. 21(1), pages 1-18, May.
    8. Alber, Jens, 2009. "What the European and American welfare states have in common and where they differ: Facts and fiction in comparisons of the European social model and the United States," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Inequality and Social Integration SP I 2009-203, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.

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