Comparative Analysis of Welfare States and Social Policy

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of welfare states and social policies, focusing on the actions taken by societies to address education, health, security, and employment. It explores how social policies aim to reduce discrimination, improve economic conditions, and enhance overall well-being. The essay examines the three worlds of welfare: liberal, conservative, and social democratic regimes, highlighting their approaches to social welfare and equality. It concludes that social democratic regimes, with their emphasis on universalism and high standards of equality, best fulfill the goals of social policy. The essay emphasizes the importance of effective social welfare in achieving these goals and minimizing social problems by providing support for individuals and families.

Running head: ANALYSIS OF WELFARE STATES AND SOCIAL POLICY
ANALYSIS OF WELFARE STATES AND SOCIAL POLICY
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1ANALYSIS OF WELFARE STATES AND SOCIAL POLICY
The term social policy refers to the actions taken by different societies across the
world to cater to the needs of people featuring education, health, security and employment
(Weimer and Vining 2017). Social policy identifies ways of minimizing social discrimination
and supports human development. Welfare state refers to the governing body protecting the
citizens and enhancing social development (Mishra 2014.).
Earlier people used to neglect the social discrimination based on race, culture, gender,
religion, economic and social status thinking it as a natural event. Recently the importance of
human development has come into limelight in some countries. The social policy
development by the country’s government caters to support the human developments. Thus
social policy aims to achieve various goals in the society. Firstly, social policy reduces the
discrimination faced by people with low income and people who face inequalities due to their
race, age, culture and gender. Secondly, a proper structured social policy helps in improving
the economic conditions of the country. Thirdly, social policy has led to evolution of
concepts like welfare state and ensures efficient distribution of resources of the welfare states
in medical treatment and educational development. Fourthly, social policy supports the living
standards of people by maintaining a minimum standard of living for every household,
insurance facility and providing unemployment and health benefits (Dean 2019). Lastly,
social policy helps to improve the society’s well-being thus it creates a positive impact on the
people living in that country.
The three worlds of welfare refer to the three types of welfare states in the world
along with a comparative analysis between them. The three worlds of welfare include liberal
regimes, conservative regimes and social democratic regimes. Liberal regimes target the
individuals or families with low income. The social policy in a liberal regime consists of
providing insurance plans and welfare schemes to the working class. This brings equality
between the working class and the remaining majority in the society. Conservative regimes

2ANALYSIS OF WELFARE STATES AND SOCIAL POLICY
supports family values and reduces discrimination based on social status. This state provides
family benefits for motherhood and insurance plans to the homemakers. Social democratic
regime focuses on bringing equality of the highest standards rather than focusing on a single
human need. This welfare state modifies the existing welfare services to minimize the dual
between state and market. These states provide costs for children care as well as the senior
citizens and helpless individuals instead of waiting until the resources of families to support
their basic needs are depleted. Thus, reducing the social problems (Emmenegger, et al. 2015).
Therefore it can be stated that social democratic regimes fulfils the goals of social
policy as they follow the principle of universalism giving the highest standards of equality
among the people.
From this essay it can be concluded that social policy reduces the discrimination in a
society. However a proper social welfare should be practised to achieve the goals of social
policy. The three welfare states each promoting different kinds of social welfare however the
social democratic regime provides the highest equality standards to its people.

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References
Dean, H., 2019. Social policy. John Wiley & Sons.
Emmenegger, P., Kvist, J., Marx, P. and Petersen, K., 2015. Three Worlds of Welfare
Capitalism: The making of a classic. Journal of European Social Policy, 25(1), pp.3-13.
Mishra, R., 2014. Welfare state capitalst society (Vol. 5). Routledge.
Weimer, D.L. and Vining, A.R., 2017. Policy analysis: Concepts and practice. Routledge.