Cross-national research on social policy and welfare states over the past five decades has proven invaluable in helping us to understand why some nations have been more successful than others in reducing social inequality and promoting the well-being of their populations. To date, this research has largely focused on the character and impact of two central pillars of social support: income transfers and social services.
The networks of transfer payments that constitute the welfare state’s first pillar, including unemployment insurance, accident insurance, pensions, child allowances and social assistance, provide income to people who have temporarily or permanently left the paid labour force, or otherwise require economic assistance. The welfare state’s second pillar is made up of various forms of social services, such as the care economy services of healthcare, childcare and elderly care, as well as decommodified provisions such as education, social housing and public transportation.
