Welfare State and Economic Theory

ECONPUBBLICA Working Paper No. 106

34 Pages Posted: 17 Jan 2006

See all articles by Roberto Artoni

Roberto Artoni

Bocconi University - Department of Policy Analysis and Public Management

Alessandra Casarico

Bocconi University - Department of Policy Analysis and Public Management; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research)

Date Written: November 2005

Abstract

This paper discusses how the analysis of the role and impact of the welfare state has evolved over time in the economic literature. We stress the change in focus from the insurance to the redistributive role and we try to assess whether the dominant view according to which the welfare state is mainly a redistributive mechanism is justified, once the historical developments and the institutional frameworks in different countries are taken into account. We come to the conclusion that insurance is indeed the function performed by the welfare state and identify through the historical and institutional analysis elements which could be profitably introduced into the economic investigation to have a better ground on which to evaluate policy effects and reforms.

Note: Downloadable document is in Italian.

Keywords: Welfare State

JEL Classification: H00

Suggested Citation

Artoni, Roberto and Casarico, Alessandra, Welfare State and Economic Theory (November 2005). ECONPUBBLICA Working Paper No. 106, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=869710 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.869710

Roberto Artoni

Bocconi University - Department of Policy Analysis and Public Management ( email )

Via Roentgen 1
Milan, 20136
Italy

Alessandra Casarico (Contact Author)

Bocconi University - Department of Policy Analysis and Public Management ( email )

Via Roentgen 1
Milan, 20136
Italy

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

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