4 Political-economic models and institutional arrangements
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Steffen Mau
Abstract
The European social model described in the previous sections crystallised out of the various national models of social organisation in its nation-states. Despite enduring differences in their concrete institutional arrangements, these national models share key fundamental principles like the institutionalisation of relations between social partners, the correction of market outcomes, the collective financing of social security systems and notions of securing social peace through justice and solidarity. Central elements of these national models of social organisation are characteristically European welfare, educational and industrial relations systems.
From the perspective of modernisation theory, national models of social organisation can be expected to converge in their development (Marshall, 1950; Parsons, 1964b;Wilensky, 1975). This is already evident in the institutionalisation of educational programmes at primary, secondary and tertiary levels or in the introduction of social insurance schemes to protect against life risks (old age, illness and unemployment). However, for quite some time now scholars have pointed out that although European states have developed similar fundamental institutions, they continue to differ at the level of their specific institutional arrangements. These differences are due not to varying degrees of modernisation and hence to disparities between ‘pioneers’ and ‘laggards’, but rather to distinct institutional profiles. This means that there are marked differences across Europe in terms of the construction of models of societal organisation; these are the products of specific social and political compromises, cultural traditions and values. These distinct national historical trajectories are characterised by path dependency, meaning that institutional forms – once introduced – prove strikingly resilient and difficult to change (see North, 1990; Ebbinghaus, 2009; Beyer, 2010).
Abstract
The European social model described in the previous sections crystallised out of the various national models of social organisation in its nation-states. Despite enduring differences in their concrete institutional arrangements, these national models share key fundamental principles like the institutionalisation of relations between social partners, the correction of market outcomes, the collective financing of social security systems and notions of securing social peace through justice and solidarity. Central elements of these national models of social organisation are characteristically European welfare, educational and industrial relations systems.
From the perspective of modernisation theory, national models of social organisation can be expected to converge in their development (Marshall, 1950; Parsons, 1964b;Wilensky, 1975). This is already evident in the institutionalisation of educational programmes at primary, secondary and tertiary levels or in the introduction of social insurance schemes to protect against life risks (old age, illness and unemployment). However, for quite some time now scholars have pointed out that although European states have developed similar fundamental institutions, they continue to differ at the level of their specific institutional arrangements. These differences are due not to varying degrees of modernisation and hence to disparities between ‘pioneers’ and ‘laggards’, but rather to distinct institutional profiles. This means that there are marked differences across Europe in terms of the construction of models of societal organisation; these are the products of specific social and political compromises, cultural traditions and values. These distinct national historical trajectories are characterised by path dependency, meaning that institutional forms – once introduced – prove strikingly resilient and difficult to change (see North, 1990; Ebbinghaus, 2009; Beyer, 2010).
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables v
- List of figures vi
- Acknowledgements viii
- List of EU countries ix
- Introduction and conceptual considerations 1
-
The European social model from a historical perspective
- Commonalities and intra-European exchange 9
- Political-economic models and institutional arrangements 49
-
European societies compared
- Political-economic models and institutional arrangements 49
- Population and family 87
- Migration 115
- Labour market and employment 135
- Education 173
- Social inequality 193
- Quality of life 225
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European integration and European society in the making
- Institutional and political aspects of Europeanisation 263
- The dynamics of inequality in Europe 285
- Horizontal Europeanisation 303
- Subjective Europeanisation 329
- Conclusion: rise of a European society? 349
- References 357
- Index 417
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables v
- List of figures vi
- Acknowledgements viii
- List of EU countries ix
- Introduction and conceptual considerations 1
-
The European social model from a historical perspective
- Commonalities and intra-European exchange 9
- Political-economic models and institutional arrangements 49
-
European societies compared
- Political-economic models and institutional arrangements 49
- Population and family 87
- Migration 115
- Labour market and employment 135
- Education 173
- Social inequality 193
- Quality of life 225
-
European integration and European society in the making
- Institutional and political aspects of Europeanisation 263
- The dynamics of inequality in Europe 285
- Horizontal Europeanisation 303
- Subjective Europeanisation 329
- Conclusion: rise of a European society? 349
- References 357
- Index 417
