The political economy of welfare in Singapore: explaining continuity and change

The Singapore model of the political economy of welfare is often understood as an anti-thesis to the high spending welfare state in Western Europe. In Singapore, the family is the key to promoting self-sufficiency. Individual responsibility is maximized through a series of highly regulated social pr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPolicy studies Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 63 - 79
Main Author Hwang, Gyu-Jin
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Routledge 02.01.2020
Taylor & Francis LLC
Subjects
Coherence
Conformity
Expenditures
Individual responsibility
Political economy
Responsibility
Self sufficiency
Singapore; Political Economy; Institutional Coherence; Role of Social Policy; East Asia
Social policy
Welfare state
Singapore
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The Singapore model of the political economy of welfare is often understood as an anti-thesis to the high spending welfare state in Western Europe. In Singapore, the family is the key to promoting self-sufficiency. Individual responsibility is maximized through a series of highly regulated social provisions, designed to promote maximum social conformity and economic instrumentality. Singapore is also considerably different from its Northeast Asian counterparts due to its remarkable level of welfare regime stability. This article addresses the question of how this continuity has been possible for so long and whether it is likely to continue. It argues that the institutional coherence that is provided through a set of ideational frameworks is central in unpacking the stories behind Singapore's road to development.
ISSN:0144-2872
1470-1006
DOI:10.1080/01442872.2018.1554803