Gosta Esping-Andersen's The Three Worlds Of Welfare Capitalism
Introduction
Since its publication in 1990, Gosta Esping-Andersen’s “The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism” has become a focus point for any social policy discussion concerning the definition and categorisation of modern welfare states. The book was written on the premise that “existing theoretical models of the welfare state are inadequate” (Esping-Andersen, 1990, 2). The author uses empirical data collected on the welfare regimes of eighteen advanced nations in order to offer “a re-conceptualisation and re-theorisation” (1990,2) of late 20th century welfare state types. Esping-Andersen proposes that welfare states have developed into three broadly defined categories, Liberal, Conservative and Social Democratic, furthermore, nations cluster …show more content…
While the three welfare types are certainly useful in assessing the roles of the market and state, glaringly omitted in the assessment of Esping-Andersen’s definition of work, is reference to the value of unpaid labor, contributed mainly by women in caring roles. Each world of welfare bears similarities and differences in the treatment of its female citizens, reflected in the social policy legislation of the nation states. Of particular interest to Feminist theories are the measures involving labour participation, tax & pension entitlements, access to employment benefits, parental leave, childcare facilitation, and the role of carers in the home or community, in relation to their accessibility to women. O’Connor (1993) points out in her article “Gender, Class, and Citizenship in the Comparative Analysis of Welfare State Regimes,” that even within welfare states women are not given equal endowment in the political process, policy-making, or in distribution of benefits. In fact, the outlay of benefits in all welfare regime types is dependent upon the “conceptualization of the ideal citizen… who is a paid worker in the public sphere.” (O'Connor, 1993, pp.
Since its publication in 1990, Gosta Esping-Andersen’s “The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism” has become a focus point for any social policy discussion concerning the definition and categorisation of modern welfare states. The book was written on the premise that “existing theoretical models of the welfare state are inadequate” (Esping-Andersen, 1990, 2). The author uses empirical data collected on the welfare regimes of eighteen advanced nations in order to offer “a re-conceptualisation and re-theorisation” (1990,2) of late 20th century welfare state types. Esping-Andersen proposes that welfare states have developed into three broadly defined categories, Liberal, Conservative and Social Democratic, furthermore, nations cluster …show more content…
While the three welfare types are certainly useful in assessing the roles of the market and state, glaringly omitted in the assessment of Esping-Andersen’s definition of work, is reference to the value of unpaid labor, contributed mainly by women in caring roles. Each world of welfare bears similarities and differences in the treatment of its female citizens, reflected in the social policy legislation of the nation states. Of particular interest to Feminist theories are the measures involving labour participation, tax & pension entitlements, access to employment benefits, parental leave, childcare facilitation, and the role of carers in the home or community, in relation to their accessibility to women. O’Connor (1993) points out in her article “Gender, Class, and Citizenship in the Comparative Analysis of Welfare State Regimes,” that even within welfare states women are not given equal endowment in the political process, policy-making, or in distribution of benefits. In fact, the outlay of benefits in all welfare regime types is dependent upon the “conceptualization of the ideal citizen… who is a paid worker in the public sphere.” (O'Connor, 1993, pp.