“What is the best explanation for the differences that have developed between social welfare arrangements in different advanced capitalist countries? In particular, does it matter what party controls government?”

Social welfare provisions have come to be seen as an almost essential part of any modern state, however there are many differences between the states, the level of welfare they provide, who is eligible to it and how it is financed. Much early research on the topic has failed to properly define the concept of a welfare state as such, but it has come to be accepted that the definition involves the responsibility of the state for securing the basic level of welfare for its citizens. However there are many ways in which this can be interpreted and a number of ways in which policies to tackle this can be implemented. The way in which they are implemented to some extent depends on the aims and principles of the party or state that is implementing the provisions.

The different directions of development for welfare states was in some cases a result of the very foundations and initial steps towards the welfare state. In many states the first welfare initiatives were actually taken as a ...