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How does the welfare state model influence social political attitudes? An analysis of citizens' concrete and abstract attitudes toward poverty

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2020

Timo Toikko*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Pori, Finland
Teemu Rantanen
Affiliation:
Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Tikkurila Campus, Vantaa, Finland
*
CONTACT Timo Toikko timo.toikko@uta.fi University of Tampere, Pohjoisranta 11, 28100 Pori, Finland

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between the welfare state models and social political attitudes. The data are based on the sixth round of the European Social Survey. The study revealed a mechanism of how the relationship between concrete and abstract attitudes differs between the welfare states. In the Anglo-Saxon and Nordic welfare states the relationship is a positive one, which indicates that the welfare state has a broad support among citizens. In the Continental, Eastern and Southern welfare states the relationship is a negative one. This means that the less satisfied citizens are with governmental measures, the more positive their attitudes are regarding protecting citizens against poverty. Also the study showed that the welfare state model directly influences citizens’ concrete attitudes and indirectly influences abstract poverty attitudes. In this sense, the welfare state model is seen more as an attitudinal perception than an actual social policy.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

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