Welfare in nations

Variable Measurement Era SPSS code N Source
System seniority Estes's Welfare Effort subindex (part of Index of Social Progress). Years since first law on: 1. Old age, invalidity, death (+), 2. Sickness, maternity (+), 3. Work injury (+), 4. Unemployment (+), 5. Family allowances (+) 1979-80 WelfareLaw1_1980 103 Estes 1984 table 5-1
Entitlements

Decommodification score

 

 1980 WelfareLaw2_1980 17 Esping-A 1990 table 2.2

Benefits generosity
Generosity in social insurance programs for: 1) unemployment, 2) sickness and 3) pensions. Estimates of entitled benefits multiplied by coverage ratio. Scores for the three programs added.
Variant of Esping-Andersen's Decommodification score

1980-89 WelfareLaw3_1980-89 18 Scruggs 2004
2000-03 WelfareLaw3_2000-03 18
Public expenditures for social security ILO definition of benefits in % GDP 1980 WelfareExpense1_19802 40 ILO-A 1996 table 31
1990 WelfareExpense1_1989 39 ILO-A 1996 table 3
1993 WelfareExpense1_1993 57 ILO-A 1997
1995 WelfareExpense1_1995 46 ILO-A 2000
1996 WelfareExpense1_1996 70 ILO-A 2000
2004-07 WelfareExpense1_2006   ILO 2010 table 26
IMF definition1
Expenditures as % GDP on 'public social protection' (health not included)
1980 WelfareExpense2_1980 27 IMF-A 1983, 1987, 1988
2004 WelfareExpense2a-2004 57 ILO-C
IMF definition2
Expenditures as % GDP on 'public social protection' and health 		2004 WelfareExpense2b-2004 57 ILO-C

OECD definition
Sum of spending on mandatory either public of mandatory private programs for 1) old age, 2) survivors, 3) incapacity, 4) health care, 5) family, 6) workfare, 7) unemployment, 8) housing, 9) other social policies. Programs should address one or more social purposes and the provision of benefits should involve either a) interpersonal redistribution, or b) compulsory participation

1980 WelfareExpense3_1980 22 OECD 1986 table 6.3
2004 WelfareExpense3b_2004 30 OECD 2009
OECD definition, modified 1960 WelfareExpense4_1960 19 Gordon 1988 table 2.1
1980 WelfareExpense4_1980 18 Gordon 1988 table 2.1

1. Some of the data were not available in ILO 1996 and were taken from earlier ILO reports. Data for Australia, Belgium, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, Philippines and Singapore were drawn from ILO 1992. Data for Poland from ILO 1985.
2. Data Iceland 1985

Related variables:
Corporatism; see topic Governance
Public health expenditure; see topic Government expenditures		 Related topics:
Wealth

Related themes:
Inequality
Politics
Social cohesion

States of Nations is an inventory of country characteristics. It is part of the World Database of Happiness

Keywords added: Cross-national, Welfare, Care, Collectivism, Public sector, Social security