Skip to Main Content

Social Democracy Inside Out: Partisanship and Labor Market Policy in Advanced Industrialized Democracies

Online ISBN:
9780191712241
Print ISBN:
9780199216352
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Social Democracy Inside Out: Partisanship and Labor Market Policy in Advanced Industrialized Democracies

David Rueda
David Rueda
Professor of Comparative Politics and Fellow of Merton College, Oxford University
Find on
Published online:
1 January 2008
Published in print:
1 October 2007
Online ISBN:
9780191712241
Print ISBN:
9780199216352
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

The analysis in this book disputes entrenched interpretations of the comparative political economy of industrialized democracies. It questions, in particular, the widely-held assumption that social democratic governments will defend the interests of labour. The evidence shows that labour has become split into two clearly differentiated constituencies: those with secure employment (insiders) and those without (outsiders). The book focuses on three policy areas: employment protection (representing the main concern of insiders), and active and passive labour market policies (the main concern of outsiders). The main thrust of the argument is that the goals of social democratic parties are often best served by pursuing policies that benefit only insiders. The implication of the book's insider-outsider model is that social democratic government is associated with higher levels of employment protection legislation but not with labour market policy. The book also argues that there are factors that can reduce insider-outsider differences and weaken their influence on social democratic governments. These hypotheses are explored through the triangulation of different methodologies. The book provides an analysis of surveys and macrodata and a detailed comparison of three case-studies: Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands.

Contents
Close
This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

Close

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

View Article Abstract & Purchase Options

For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription.

Close