Even in a time as we experience now, where a lot of companies
becoming bankrupt, it is more important than ever, to have a look on those people who are directly affected by the economic crisis. These are especially people who lost their job in consequence of cutbacks in manpower or bankruptcy.
It is interesting to see how the European countries are working together to decrease the aftermaths of the present crisis.
In this essay I will analyse in which way the German and the Norwegian Social system works, especially the facilities for unemployed people. And I will try to show the historical and organisational differences of both systems.
In this reason I will give a short overview over the different „welfare regimes“ in Europe first and describe how to classify them into three big groups, according to Gøsta Esping-Andersen, who worked a lot in this field of study.
Afterwards I will have a look on the historical and organisational design of the social system of one of the world's richest countries - Norway. In
point 3b I will describe how Norway manages the unemployment and what kind of benefits unemployed persons will get.
After that, in point 4, I will examine the case of Germany, as the
birthplace of the welfare state in Europe. As I divided the chapter about Norway into one historical part and one part about the benefits for unemployed persons, I did it with this part as well.
At the end of this essay I will make a short conclusion, in which I will discuss the pros and cons of both systems and present, why it is so difficult to find the right balance in the level of unemployment benefits.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Welfare states in Europe – A classification - according to Gøsta Esping-Andersen
2.a) The Anglo-Saxon, liberal type
2.b) The continental-European, conservative type
2.c) The Scandinavian, social democratic type
2.d) Criticisms to this classification
3. Norway
3.a) Historical development of the Norwegian social system
3.b) The situation for unemployed persons
4. Germany
4.a) Historical development of the German social system
4.b) The situation for unemployed persons
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay aims to analyze and compare the German and Norwegian social welfare systems, with a specific focus on the provisions and institutional support mechanisms available to unemployed individuals. By examining the historical and organizational frameworks of both nations, the work explores how different welfare regimes address economic crisis and social security.
- Classification of European welfare regimes according to Gøsta Esping-Andersen.
- Historical evolution of social policy in Norway and Germany.
- Institutional design of unemployment benefits and social assistance programs.
- Comparative analysis of support levels and access criteria for the unemployed.
- Discussion on the challenges of balancing social security and labor market incentives.
Excerpt from the Book
a) The Anglo-Saxon, liberal type
In this type the focus is on the conformity of the market and a low influence from the state. Organisation and degree of sociopolitical benefits follow this principle.
Because of the low benefits from the state, the People must have much individual responsibility. According to this, the family's assistance is playing a big and important role for the individual.
The degree of social inequality is market-determined and keeps on a high level.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, focusing on the importance of analyzing social security for the unemployed during economic crises and defining the scope of the comparison between Germany and Norway.
2. Welfare states in Europe – A classification - according to Gøsta Esping-Andersen: This section provides a theoretical framework by categorizing European welfare regimes into three primary types—liberal, conservative, and social democratic—while also addressing common critiques of this classification.
3. Norway: This chapter explores the historical trajectory of the Norwegian social system and details the current institutional support and benefit structures available to those facing unemployment.
4. Germany: This chapter examines the historical development of the German welfare model, characterized by its contribution-based system, and explains the specific regulations and reforms governing unemployment benefits in Germany.
5. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings of the comparison, highlighting the similarities and differences in how both countries manage the balance between social support and labor market incentives.
Keywords
Welfare state, Unemployment benefits, Social security, Norway, Germany, Gøsta Esping-Andersen, Social policy, Economic crisis, Labor market, Social assistance, Liberal type, Conservative type, Social democratic type, Income redistribution, Welfare regimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work provides a comparative analysis of the German and Norwegian social welfare systems, specifically evaluating how each country supports individuals who have lost their jobs due to economic factors.
Which theoretical model is used to classify the countries?
The author utilizes the welfare state classification developed by Gøsta Esping-Andersen, which distinguishes between Anglo-Saxon liberal, continental-European conservative, and Scandinavian social-democratic regimes.
What is the core objective of the research?
The research aims to understand the historical and organizational differences between the German and Norwegian social systems and how these differences impact the nature of benefits provided to unemployed persons.
Which research methodology is employed?
The work uses a comparative analytical approach, utilizing historical reviews and policy descriptions to assess the institutional frameworks of social security in the two nations.
What aspects of the social systems are discussed in the main chapters?
The main chapters cover the historical evolution of social legislation, the financing models of social insurance, and the practical administrative procedures and benefit levels for the unemployed in both countries.
Which keywords best describe this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as welfare state, social security, unemployment benefits, Esping-Andersen, and cross-national social policy comparison.
How does the Norwegian system differ from the German one in terms of funding?
The Norwegian system emphasizes a more universal, tax-financed model, whereas the German system historically relies heavily on a contribution-based insurance model tied to employment.
What is the significance of the "social question" mentioned in the Norwegian context?
The "social question" refers to the historical emergence of industrialization-related poverty and working conditions, which served as the primary catalyst for the development of Norway's social security provisions.
How does the author evaluate the "social balance" in unemployment benefits?
The author notes that both countries struggle to find the right balance: providing enough support to ensure a decent standard of living without creating disincentives for individuals to seek new employment.
- Citation du texte
- Manuel Lehmann (Auteur), 2009, The welfare system in Norway and Germany and the situation for unemployed persons, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/144985
