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Universalism in Welfare Policy: The Swedish Case beyond 1990

Author

Listed:
  • Paula Blomqvist

    (Department of Government, Uppsala University, Sweden)

  • Joakim Palme

    (Department of Government, Uppsala University, Sweden)

Abstract

Despite its broad usage, universalism as a concept is not always clearly defined. In this article, a multidimensional definition of universalism in social policy is developed, based on four policy characteristics: inclusion, financing, provision, and the adequacy of benefits. In the empirical part of the article, the feasibility of this definition is tested by an analysis of recent changes in the Swedish welfare state, which is typically described as universal but has undergone substantive reforms since 1990. Four social policy areas are examined: pensions, social insurance, health care, and family policy. The results indicate that Swedish welfare policies retain their universalistic character in some dimensions but have become less universalistic in others. This demonstrates that a multidimensional approach is best suited to capture in full the nature and implications of welfare state reform.

Suggested Citation

  • Paula Blomqvist & Joakim Palme, 2020. "Universalism in Welfare Policy: The Swedish Case beyond 1990," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 114-123.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:socinc:v8:y:2020:i:1:p:114-123
    DOI: 10.17645/si.v8i1.2511
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joakim Palme & Walter Korpi, 1998. "The Paradox of Redistribution and Strategies of Equality: Welfare State Institutions, Inequality and Poverty in the Western Countries," LIS Working papers 174, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    2. Brady, David & Bostic, Amie, 2015. "Paradoxes of Social Policy: Welfare Transfers, Relative Poverty, and Redistribution Preferences," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 80(2), pages 268-298.
    3. Kullberg, Linn & Blomqvist, Paula & Winblad, Ulrika, 2019. "Health insurance for the healthy? Voluntary health insurance in Sweden," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(8), pages 737-746.
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    Cited by:

    1. Monica Budowski & Daniel Künzler, 2020. "Universalism in Social Policies: A Multidimensional Concept, Policy Idea or Process," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 86-89.
    2. Maja Östling, 2025. "Deemed as ‘Distant’: Categorizing Unemployment in Sweden’s Evolving Welfare Landscape," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, February.

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