Correlates of Social Security Policy

Abstract

Comparative politics allows us to appraise the policy relevance of political variables as distinct from those of cultural, societal, and economic variables. Recent research has made an initial contribution to what may be called comparative public policy; in the field of welfare policy, it has raised questions concerning the measurement of welfare needs, the relationship between resources and benefits, the role of political values, and the likelihood of policy diffusion among neighboring states. This study reviews four environmental variables, four political variables, and three measures of social security as applied to eight countries. In doing so, new information is brought to light concerning the significance of the variables and the direction further research should take.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Cameron, D.R. (1978) "The expansion of the public economy: a comparative analysis." Amer. Pol. Sci. Rev. 72, 4: 1243-1261.

Gitelman, Z. (1972) "The diffusion of political innovation from Eastern Europe to the Soviet Union." Sage Professional Papers in Comparative Politics 3.

Greenberg, G.D. et al. ( 1977) "Developing public policy theory: perspectives from empirical research." Amer. Pol. Sci. Rev. 71 (December): 1532-1543.

Heclo, H. (1974) Modern Social Politics in Britain and Sweden: From Relief to Income Maintenance. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Heidenheimer, A.J. , H. Heclo , and C.T. Adams (1975) Comparative Public Policy: The Politics of Social Choice in Europe and America. New York: St. Martin's.

International Labour Office (1976) The Cost of Social Security, 8th International Inquiry, 1967-1971. Geneva: Author.

Kaim-Caudle, P.R. ( 1973) Comparative Social Policy and Social Security . New York: Dunellen.

Minkoff, J. and L. Turgeon (1977) "Income maintenance in the Soviet Union in Eastern and Western perspective," in Equity, Income, and Policy: Comparative Studies in Three Worlds of Development, edited by Irving Louis Horowitz. New York: Praeger.

Peters, G.B. ( 1976) "Social change, palitical change, and public policy ," in R. Rose (ed.) The Dynamics of Public Policy. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

10.

--- ( 1974) "The development of social policy in France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom," in M. Heisler (ed.) Politics in Europe. New York: David McKay.

11.

——— and M. Heisler ( 1978) "Comparing social policy across levels of government, countries, and time: Belgium and Sweden since 1870," in D. E. Ashford (ed.) Comparing Public Policies: New Concepts and Methods. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

12.

Pryor, F.L. (1968) Public Expenditures in Communist and Capitalist Nations. Homewood, IL: Irwin.

13.

Rimlinger, G.V. (1971) Welfare Policy and Industrialization in Europe, America and Russia. New York: John Wiley.

14.

Rodgers, B.N. [with J. Greve and J.S. Morgan ] (1968) Comparative Social Administration. London: Allen and Unwin.

15.

Siegel, R.L. and L.B. Weinberg (1977) Comparing Public Policies: United States, Soviet Union, and Europe. Homewood, IL: Irwin.

16.

U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency ( 1976) World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers, 1965-1974 . Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

17.

U.S. Social Security Administration ( 1977 ) Social Security Programs throughout the World. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

18.

Wilensky, H.L. ( 1975) The Welfare State and Equality: Structural and Ideological Roots of Public Expenditures. Berkeley: Univ. of California.

19.

Woodsworth, D.E. (1977) Social Security and National Policy: Sweden, Yugoslavia, Japan. Montreal: McGill- Queen's University.