Resilience of European welfare regimes against the negative impacts of the financial crisis 2008

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Challenges for Three European Welfare States: Sweden, Austria and Spain
• 2.1 Welfare State Typology
• 2.2 A typology of economic crises
• 2.3 Impacts of the financial crisis on national budgets (2007 - 2010)
• 3 Impact of the Crisis on Unemployment, Poverty and Distribution
• 3.1 Unemployment: Developments in Sweden, Austria and Spain in comparison
• 3.1.1 Unemployment rate of the total population (from 15 to 74 years)
• 3.1.2 Youth unemployment rate and youth unemployment ratio
• 3.1.3 Unemployment rate according to the highest level of education
• 3.2 Poverty: Developments in Sweden, Austria and Spain in comparison
• 3.2.1 Poverty rate of the total population
• 3.2.2 Youth-poverty rate
• 3.2.3 Old-age poverty rate
• 3.2.4 Poverty rate of single parents with one dependent child
• 3.2.5 Summary of the findings concerning poverty
• 3.3 Distribution: Developments in Sweden, Austria and Spain in comparison
• 3.3.1 Which lessons can be learned from past recessions concerning distributional effects?
• 3.3.2 Which lessons can be learned from the current crisis concerning distributional effects?
• 3.3.3 Summary of the findings concerning the Gini coefficient

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on unemployment, poverty, and income distribution in Sweden, Austria, and Spain. The research seeks to understand how these welfare states responded to the crisis and whether variations in their responses can be attributed to their different welfare state models.
• The impact of the 2008 financial crisis on European welfare states
• The development of unemployment, poverty, and income distribution in Sweden, Austria, and Spain following the crisis
• The role of different welfare state models in mitigating the negative consequences of the crisis
• The vulnerability of different social groups to economic shocks
• The importance of social protection as a social buffer and economic stabilizer

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: The introduction discusses the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on the European Union, including the resulting economic recession, rising unemployment, and increased public debt. It also highlights the importance of social protection during economic downturns and the need for analyzing the effectiveness of different welfare state models in mitigating the negative consequences of the crisis.
• Chapter 2: This chapter provides an overview of the welfare state models in Sweden, Austria, and Spain. It examines their respective characteristics, including their historical development and key policy features. The chapter also analyzes the impact of the crisis on national budgets in these countries, focusing on government revenue and expenditure, as well as public debt.
• Chapter 3: This chapter analyzes the development of unemployment, poverty, and income distribution in the three countries after the financial crisis. It examines trends in unemployment rates, focusing on different subgroups like youth and those with different education levels. It also explores trends in poverty rates, considering overall poverty, youth poverty, old-age poverty, and single-parent poverty. Finally, the chapter examines the distribution of income using the Gini coefficient and discusses lessons learned from past and present recessions regarding distributional effects.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This research focuses on the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on European welfare states, particularly Sweden, Austria, and Spain. Key themes include unemployment, poverty, income distribution, welfare state models, social protection, and the economic consequences of economic shocks. The research also examines the vulnerability of different social groups and the importance of social security in mitigating the negative impacts of economic crises.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the 2008 financial crisis affect European welfare states?

The crisis led to severe economic recession, rising unemployment, and soaring public debt, putting immense pressure on social protection systems.

What is the "resilience" of a welfare state?

Resilience refers to a system's ability to handle external economic shocks and protect vulnerable social groups without collapsing financially.

How do Sweden, Austria, and Spain compare in their crisis response?

The study analyzes these countries as examples of different welfare models (Nordic, Continental, and Mediterranean) and how their structures influenced unemployment and poverty rates.

What role does social protection play as an economic stabilizer?

Social benefits act as a buffer that cushions the impact of recessions, helping to revitalize the economy while protecting the most vulnerable.

What is the Gini coefficient used for in this study?

The Gini coefficient measures income inequality, helping to identify how the crisis affected the distribution of wealth within each country.