Constitutional Commitment to Social Security and Welfare Policy

31 Pages Posted: 28 Feb 2006

See all articles by Avi Ben-Bassat

Avi Ben-Bassat

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Department of Economics

Momi Dahan

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - School of Public Policy; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Date Written: February 2006

Abstract

In this paper we explore whether the constitutional text has any practical meaning for welfare policy. To examine the empirical importance of the constitution, we first constructed for 68 countries an index of constitutional commitment to social security in five areas: Old Age, disability and survivors (OASDI), Unemployment, Sickness, Work Injury and Income Support. We find that the extent and coverage of social security laws is not sensitive to the degree of constitutional commitment to social security.

Keywords: Welfare Policy, Social Security, Constitution, Legal Origins

JEL Classification: H53, H55

Suggested Citation

Ben-Bassat, Avi and Dahan, Momi, Constitutional Commitment to Social Security and Welfare Policy (February 2006). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=886044 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.886044

Avi Ben-Bassat

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Department of Economics ( email )

Mount Scopus
Jerusalem, 91905
Israel

Momi Dahan (Contact Author)

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - School of Public Policy ( email )

Mount Scopus
Jerusalem 91905
Israel
972-2-5883709 (Phone)
972-2-5880047 (Fax)

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

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