Social Justice and Social Provision: Qualitative and quantitative evidence from Germany and the UK

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Social Justice andSocial ProvisionQualitative
and quantitative evidence from Germany and the UK

• Peter Taylor-Gooby
• p.f.taylor-gooby_at_kent.ac.uk
• Thanks to AGF, Rose Martin, Steffen Mau,
  Christoph Burkhardt and others

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(No Transcript)
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Context

• Interest in citizenship
• Rights, redistribution, duties
• Legitimacy, solidarity, trust in govt.
• Does WS promote legitimacy? Relevance
• Pressures on WS (Scharpf/Schmidt, Pierson, Bonoli
  etc)
• Intensified by current recession/depression
• Shadow of failure to address climate issues
• New approach pro-active, responsible individual,
  guided by incentives and opportunities
• Cf EES, activation and flexi-curity, shift to
  NPM, more non-state pensions, etc

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The paper

• This paper ideas about fairness and role of
  govt. in Germany UK
• Contrasting Euro settings facing similar issues
  
• Substantial reforms
• From traditional to modernised WS citizenship?

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German UK contrasts

• Euro WS regimes
• VoC
• Consensus/majoritarian constitutions
• Mfg/service, finance sector-led
• Outcomes differ
• Anticipate strong value contrast?
• Cf ArtsGellissen, Jaeger, LinosWest, van
  Oorschott, but see Svallfors

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Income inequalities (1980-2005)

• Mkt incomes
• UK top 10 17 from median top 25 10
  bottom10 -8
• Germany 12 5 -2 (Atkinson)
• Poverty (60 median)
• UK 22
• Germany about 14 (Eurostat)

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German UK trajectories

• Recent shifts towards more individual, pro-active
  approach in Germany
• Neue Mitte, Job Aqtiv 2001, Hartz IV reforms,
  Arbeitslosengeld II, most radical shake-up of
  system in FRGs history (EI, 2005), Riester
  reforms 2001, etc.
• New right 1979-97 and developed further under
  3rd way 1997-? UK govts
• Pensions, JSA, New Deal, make work pay, NPM etc.

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Our study

• Investigate welfare values in Germany and UK
  using quant/qual methods
• ESS, BSA, commissioned German phone survey, 1000.
• Focus Groups
• 6 Hamburg/ Cologne 8 Birmingham/ London, nos
  of 45-65/ 21-44, men/women, non-routine/routine
  workers

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Questions

• Do German citizens think differently about
  fairness and WS than UK citizens?
• Equality outcome vs. opportunity more valued in
  Germany?
• Private and state private more accepted in UK?
• Do findings indicate Euro WS values moving to
  individualism?
• Implications for political legitimacy?

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Fairness Germany UK
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Qual Findings Germany

• Stress on both opportunity and outcome
• Some class difference, role of common
  institutional basis in ensuring opps more
  stressed by non-routine
• Stress on contribution entitlements by routine
  workers

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Conceptions of a fair society

• I like the thought of a society where the weak
  are protected.. On the other hand it is important
  to think about how to reward achievement..
• Everyone needs to have a basic standard from the
  govt. he can launch from
• ..equality of opportunity and the possibility of
  having a social base or foundation Fundament..

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Qual findings UK

• Valuing of equality of opportunity
• Stronger emphasis on individual responsibility
  and pro-activity to ensure that opportunities
  grasped
• Many people see opportunities as equal at
  present, for those who pursue them
• Alan Sugar argument, no equivalent response in
  Germany

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Fair society UK

• I bump into people in the supermarket and think
  life hasnt been kind to you but it was their
  choice
• People make choices in life
• Yes opportunities are there in our society.. but
  its up to you to get them..
• Some people work at things, some people dont

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Public vs. Private
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Germany

• Basic level of equal provision valued
• Routine working class more likely to think
  privileged access by rich unfair
• Non-routine more likely to tolerate privilege in
  pensions than edn. health
• Some acceptance that inequalities in access exist
  in a market society

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• I think it is upsetting like in England..-that
  you can take a lot of money and finance your
  childrens education
• Basic provisions should be given to all, and
  potentials within our society fostered.
• It is unfair that the better-off can buy better
  services
• It is awful that the one sitting next to me is
  private and gets treated better, but
  unfortunately that is the society we already live
  in

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UK focus groups

• Most people endorsed right of well-off to spend
  money as they chose (only 5 out of 71 thought
  this was unfair)
• General assumption people have a right to what
  theyve earned/ can pay for
• Some higher-paid participants thought private
  service users should be allowed to opt out of
  relevant taxes

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• They worked for it, theyve earned it they can do
  what they like with it
• One of the things would make it fairer, if people
  opt out, you know go for private medicine, they
  get tax relief.. I pay twice..
• If Id got money thats the first thing Id
  doprivate healthcare
• Good luck to them..

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Conclusion

• Germany UK contrast. Strong differences in
  ideas about fairness, equality and role of state
  and private, despite quant survey similarities,
• No real indication of convergence, despite
  globalisation, inequality, reform directions
• Value of qual quant work?