Understanding the New Politics of Welfare Reform: Preface

In: Political studies: the journal of the Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom, Band 61, Heft 3, S. 474-479

Abstract

For some time, a sense of crisis has surrounded welfare states. Deregulatory pressures, sluggish economic growth, deindustrialization of labor markets, rising unemployment, demographic ageing, declining birth rates and family restructuring are commonly listed among the most pressing challenges facing mature welfare regimes. Together, such challenges contribute to an explosive mix by simultaneously exerting pressure for increases in social welfare expenditure while contracting the fiscal foundation on which states rely to deliver it. If there was ever a time when it was critical to dig deeper into the operating conditions, mechanisms and strategies of austerity management and welfare restructuring in this era of unwavering austerity, that time is now. Here, Vieira and Pinto talk about on understanding the new politics of welfare reform. Adapted from the source document.