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Insider-outsider divides and support for social investment policies

Giubilaro de Angelis, Antonio LU (2022) WPMM43 20212
Department of Political Science
Abstract
In recent years, many scholars have observed increasing polarization in the distribution of labor market risk, as well as social and employment rights. This phenomenon is often referred to as labor market dualization, a process deepening the divide between privileged insiders and less fortunate outsiders. Some authors have begun to search for a possible insider-outsider divide in policy preferences and voting behavior, fueled by their irreconcilable interests.
In parallel, the literature on welfare state development has observed (and even vocally advocated for) a reframing of welfare policies as social investment policies, geared towards the creation, maintenance, and activation of human capital throughout the life course. A welfare... (More)
In recent years, many scholars have observed increasing polarization in the distribution of labor market risk, as well as social and employment rights. This phenomenon is often referred to as labor market dualization, a process deepening the divide between privileged insiders and less fortunate outsiders. Some authors have begun to search for a possible insider-outsider divide in policy preferences and voting behavior, fueled by their irreconcilable interests.
In parallel, the literature on welfare state development has observed (and even vocally advocated for) a reframing of welfare policies as social investment policies, geared towards the creation, maintenance, and activation of human capital throughout the life course. A welfare reform strategy founded on the expansion of so-called social investment policies, such as childcare services, active labor market policies, and education, has been invoked as a way to reconcile the interests of the working and middle classes, and to reduce dualization.
In this thesis, I estimate logistic regression models on public opinion data from eight West European countries to study support for social investment policies. Specifically, I ask whether insiders and outsiders differ in the importance they attribute to social investment policies vis-à-vis traditional social protection, or in how they view the primary purpose of the welfare state.
I find no evidence of an insider-outsider divide on the level of spending priorities. When asked to choose only one policy area where they would like to see a spending increase, outsiders are not more likely than insiders to prioritize social investment policies. I do find evidence against outsider support for social investment on an ideational level, since outsiders are less likely than insiders to view social investment as the primary purpose of the welfare state. (Less)
Popular Abstract
In recent years, many scholars have observed increasing polarization in the distribution of labor market risk, as well as social and employment rights. This phenomenon is often referred to as labor market dualization, a process deepening the divide between privileged insiders and less fortunate outsiders. Some authors have begun to search for a possible insider-outsider divide in policy preferences and voting behavior, fueled by their irreconcilable interests.
In parallel, the literature on welfare state development has observed (and even vocally advocated for) a reframing of welfare policies as social investment policies, geared towards the creation, maintenance, and activation of human capital throughout the life course. A welfare... (More)
In recent years, many scholars have observed increasing polarization in the distribution of labor market risk, as well as social and employment rights. This phenomenon is often referred to as labor market dualization, a process deepening the divide between privileged insiders and less fortunate outsiders. Some authors have begun to search for a possible insider-outsider divide in policy preferences and voting behavior, fueled by their irreconcilable interests.
In parallel, the literature on welfare state development has observed (and even vocally advocated for) a reframing of welfare policies as social investment policies, geared towards the creation, maintenance, and activation of human capital throughout the life course. A welfare reform strategy founded on the expansion of so-called social investment policies, such as childcare services, active labor market policies, and education, has been invoked as a way to reconcile the interests of the working and middle classes, and to reduce dualization.
In this thesis, I estimate logistic regression models on public opinion data from eight West European countries to study support for social investment policies. Specifically, I ask whether insiders and outsiders differ in the importance they attribute to social investment policies vis-à-vis traditional social protection, or in how they view the primary purpose of the welfare state.
I find no evidence of an insider-outsider divide on the level of spending priorities. When asked to choose only one policy area where they would like to see a spending increase, outsiders are not more likely than insiders to prioritize social investment policies. I do find evidence against outsider support for social investment on an ideational level, since outsiders are less likely than insiders to view social investment as the primary purpose of the welfare state. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Giubilaro de Angelis, Antonio LU
supervisor
organization
course
WPMM43 20212
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Labor market dualization, insider-outsider divides, insider-outsider theory, social investment, welfare state, social policy, policy preferences, political behavior, public opinion.
language
English
id
9070500
date added to LUP
2022-03-14 13:00:10
date last changed
2022-03-14 13:00:10
@misc{9070500,
  abstract     = {{In recent years, many scholars have observed increasing polarization in the distribution of labor market risk, as well as social and employment rights. This phenomenon is often referred to as labor market dualization, a process deepening the divide between privileged insiders and less fortunate outsiders. Some authors have begun to search for a possible insider-outsider divide in policy preferences and voting behavior, fueled by their irreconcilable interests.
In parallel, the literature on welfare state development has observed (and even vocally advocated for) a reframing of welfare policies as social investment policies, geared towards the creation, maintenance, and activation of human capital throughout the life course. A welfare reform strategy founded on the expansion of so-called social investment policies, such as childcare services, active labor market policies, and education, has been invoked as a way to reconcile the interests of the working and middle classes, and to reduce dualization.
In this thesis, I estimate logistic regression models on public opinion data from eight West European countries to study support for social investment policies. Specifically, I ask whether insiders and outsiders differ in the importance they attribute to social investment policies vis-à-vis traditional social protection, or in how they view the primary purpose of the welfare state.
I find no evidence of an insider-outsider divide on the level of spending priorities. When asked to choose only one policy area where they would like to see a spending increase, outsiders are not more likely than insiders to prioritize social investment policies. I do find evidence against outsider support for social investment on an ideational level, since outsiders are less likely than insiders to view social investment as the primary purpose of the welfare state.}},
  author       = {{Giubilaro de Angelis, Antonio}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Insider-outsider divides and support for social investment policies}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}