Research

25 Years of ‘Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism’ Research
Gøsta Esping-Andersen

25 Years of ‘Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism’

February 26, 2015 5946

.  Gøsta Esping-Andersen

Gøsta Esping-Andersen

Why celebrate the 25th birthday of an academic book? While many books collect dust on library shelves long before that age, some become classics of their discipline. Gøsta Esping-Andersen’s The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism – arguably the most influential contribution to comparative welfare state research ever written -is just such a book.

A new special issue of the Journal of European Social Policy, with guest editorsPatrick Emmenegger from the University of St. Gallen, Jon Kvist of Roskilde University, and Paul Marx and Klaus Petersen, both at the at the University of South Denmark, reflects on the impact of this seminal work. For a limited time, the entire issue is freely available to read.

In Three Worlds, Esping-Andersen demonstrates that the different historical and political trajectories of capitalist societies produced three distinct types of welfare state, which in turn reflect different political ideologies (liberal, conservative and social democratic).  The work shows us that these three welfare state types have systematically different economic, political and social consequences.  The book had an immediate impact on comparative welfare state research, and twenty-five years after its publication, itcontinues to inspire research and debate.  The contributions in this special issue not only assess the impact of Three Worlds on different debates, but also look forward, advancing the debates the work initiated.

Euro Social Policy coverFor example, Jennifer Hook takes her point of departure from the critique of the neglect of gender and care in Three Worlds. While much of the subsequent feminist literature developed alternative typologies of ‘gender regimes’, Hook defends the relevance of Esping-Andersen’s work.  Analysing work–family arrangements, she argues that class inequality is the missing variable that connects Three Worlds and alternative typologies of ‘gender regimes’.

The subjects considered in this special issue are wide ranging: Jane Gingrich and Silja Häusermann analyse class-based voting; Torben Iversen and David Soskice discuss the relationship between Three Worlds and the influential Varieties of Capitalism literature; Daniel Oesch analyses the relationship between equality and employment in post-industrial economies; Philip Manow examines the social and political origins of the so-called ‘fourth’ welfare regime in Southern Europe; while Kees van Kersbergen and Barbara Vis reflect on  the (dominant) role Three Worlds has played in comparative welfare state research.

Of course, the birthday child must have the last word and the special issue thus concludes with an essay by Gøsta Esping-Andersen on the effect of the welfare state on social mobility, a subject he himself considers to be neglected in his original work. In this essay, he shows that while social democratic welfare states have enhanced the chance of upward mobility for working-class offspring, this equalization did not diminish the advantages bestowed upon the privileged classes.

This is a significant collection of work which we hope will continue to inspire further research and debate on the role and impact of the welfare state. You can also let us know what you think via @SAGEsocialwork, using the hashtag #3worlds.


Sage, the parent of Social Science Space, is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, 24-year-old Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely. 

View all posts by Sage

Related Articles

Exploring the ‘Publish or Perish’ Mentality and its Impact on Research Paper Retractions
Research
October 10, 2024

Exploring the ‘Publish or Perish’ Mentality and its Impact on Research Paper Retractions

Read Now
Megan Stevenson on Why Interventions in the Criminal Justice System Don’t Work
Social Science Bites
July 1, 2024

Megan Stevenson on Why Interventions in the Criminal Justice System Don’t Work

Read Now
How ‘Dad Jokes’ Help Children Learn How To Handle Embarrassment
Insights
June 14, 2024

How ‘Dad Jokes’ Help Children Learn How To Handle Embarrassment

Read Now
How Social Science Can Hurt Those It Loves
Ethics
June 4, 2024

How Social Science Can Hurt Those It Loves

Read Now
Digital Scholarly Records are Facing New Risks

Digital Scholarly Records are Facing New Risks

Drawing on a study of Crossref DOI data, Martin Eve finds evidence to suggest that the current standard of digital preservation could fall worryingly short of ensuring persistent accurate record of scholarly works.

Read Now
Analyzing the Impact: Social Media and Mental Health 

Analyzing the Impact: Social Media and Mental Health 

The social and behavioral sciences supply evidence-based research that enables us to make sense of the shifting online landscape pertaining to mental health. We’ll explore three freely accessible articles (listed below) that give us a fuller picture on how TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and online forums affect mental health. 

Read Now
New Fellowship for Community-Led Development Research of Latin America and the Caribbean Now Open

New Fellowship for Community-Led Development Research of Latin America and the Caribbean Now Open

Thanks to a collaboration between the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), applications are now being accepted for […]

Read Now
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments