Hardback
Varieties of Equality in European Welfare States
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Redistribution
9781035343676 Edward Elgar Publishing
In this forward-thinking book, Davide Orsitto reframes our understanding of equality in democratic Europe, tracing the idea from abstract concept to theoretical and practical politics and policy. Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, he analyzes equality through economic, political and cultural lenses, to understand different countries’ unique interpretation of the principle.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
In this forward-thinking book, Davide Orsitto reframes our understanding of equality in democratic Europe, tracing the idea from abstract concept to theoretical and practical politics and policy. Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, he analyzes equality through economic, political and cultural lenses, to understand different countries’ unique interpretation of the principle.
Building on current research on equality as both a principle and policy objective, Orsitto proposes a new approach to understanding and categorizing the industrialized democracies in Europe’s welfare states. Presenting a novel methodology to measure political and cultural inclinations, the book outlines the extent to which states are committed to income and wealth transfers, as well as the efficiency of redistributive policies. Varieties of Equality in European Welfare States concludes by exploring how changes in redistributive policies are influenced by political preferences and cultural spheres.
This innovative book is an invaluable resource for students and academics specializing in sociology, social policy, public policy, politics, economics, epistemology and anthropology. It will also be of interest to practitioners and policymakers operating in the political sphere.
Building on current research on equality as both a principle and policy objective, Orsitto proposes a new approach to understanding and categorizing the industrialized democracies in Europe’s welfare states. Presenting a novel methodology to measure political and cultural inclinations, the book outlines the extent to which states are committed to income and wealth transfers, as well as the efficiency of redistributive policies. Varieties of Equality in European Welfare States concludes by exploring how changes in redistributive policies are influenced by political preferences and cultural spheres.
This innovative book is an invaluable resource for students and academics specializing in sociology, social policy, public policy, politics, economics, epistemology and anthropology. It will also be of interest to practitioners and policymakers operating in the political sphere.
Critical Acclaim
‘Varieties of Equality in European Welfare States brings the question of equality back into focus for scholarship on policy-making in welfare states across contemporary Europe. Drawing on major philosophical debates in political economy, the book deftly maps out European states and societies according to their normative commitments to equality and social justice and then empirically tests their comparative efficiency as models over time. In order to do so, the book constructs an innovative measure of country-level preferences for liberty, equality, holism, and individualism and charts out a novel empirical method of evaluating the redistributive and social policies associated with them. Davide Orsitto has written a superb book that reinvigorates our understanding of the relationship between normative commitments to fraternity, solidarity and freedom and the functioning of the welfare state in Europe.
– Michael D. Driessen, John Cabot University, Italy
‘After three decades of neoliberalism, it may be time to rethink the European Welfare State. This book makes an important contribution by questioning the philosophical, political and economic foundation of the European model.’
– Stefan Collignon, London School of Economics, UK
– Michael D. Driessen, John Cabot University, Italy
‘After three decades of neoliberalism, it may be time to rethink the European Welfare State. This book makes an important contribution by questioning the philosophical, political and economic foundation of the European model.’
– Stefan Collignon, London School of Economics, UK
Contents
Contents
Introduction: varieties of equality
1 Three concepts and pursuits of equality: the philosophical underpinnings
2 An ideological map of equality: axiological preferences, varieties of ideology
3 The welfare state as a human rights enforcer: concepts, evolution and economic thought
4 The focal variability of equality in numbers
5 Parsing through the normative context of social justice
Conclusion
Appendix: Normative context of social justice
References
Introduction: varieties of equality
1 Three concepts and pursuits of equality: the philosophical underpinnings
2 An ideological map of equality: axiological preferences, varieties of ideology
3 The welfare state as a human rights enforcer: concepts, evolution and economic thought
4 The focal variability of equality in numbers
5 Parsing through the normative context of social justice
Conclusion
Appendix: Normative context of social justice
References
