Magnus Rasmussen (ph.d.-stipendiat, Universitetet i Aarhus) presenterer et arbeid på AKS-seminaret om segmentering av velferdsstater -- at ytelser og fordeler gis på grunnlag av tilhørighet til nasjonale, etniske eller sosiale grupper fremfor behov eller universelle rettigheter. I arbeidet presenteres en hypotese om fagorganiseringens rolle i segmentering. Rasmussen tester hypotesen med nylig innsamlede kryssnasjonale data.
Abstract
Segmented welfare states grant access to benefits by membership in occupational, ethnic or social groups, instead of as a result of a need or right. I investigate their origins. Contrary to the prevalent class-theory of unionism, I argue that unions prefer segmented policies, as they can be targeted to union groups, reducing free-rider problems. Only where union membership is spread over all sectors of the economy, making policy targeting near impossible, are unions’ promoters of encompassing policies. This is tested using a novel dataset on segmentation in pensions and unemployment benefits – 66 countries over 100 years. The results strongly indicate that unions support the expansion of segmented benefits, and shift to promoting universal benefits when union membership is highly heterogeneous.
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