Three Factors of Welfare Systems:

• Welfare as social rights "de-commodifies" workers ("emancipates them from market dependence"). Assumes that entitlements are unconditional.



• Welfare universalizes the status of all citizens (as opposed to simple poor relief which stigmatizes recipients and therefore stratifies society).



• There is no uniform structure to welfare states. There are only distinct "welfare state regimes" ("three worlds").

The Three Worlds of Welfare State Capitalism:

• Liberal welfare states - Modest means-tested assistance and universal payments (social security); entitlements are stigmatizing; private insurance is extensive. Cases: the U.S., Britain, Canada, and Australia.



• Corporatist welfare states - Sizable assistance and universal payments for particular categories (e.g., workers); entitlements are not stigmatizing; private insurance is marginal. Cases: Austria, France, and Germany.



• Social democratic welfare states - Sizable transfers universally available and de-commodifying. Cases: Scandinavia (especially Sweden and Norway).