The left divided: the development and transformation of advanced welfare states
Why do some countries construct strong systems of social protection, while others leave workers exposed to market forces? One of the most robust findings of the comparative political economy literature is the claim that the more political resources are controlled by the left, the more likely a country is to have generous, universal welfare states. In contrast, this book argues, through in-depth case studies of Portugal and Spain, that the strength of the far left is an important and overlooked determinant of social protection outcomes.