2013-05-23T11:55:11Z http://repub.eur.nl/oai

oai:repub.eur.nl/res/pub/19960 2012-11-14T12:24:05Z org:344 org:9716 org:9747 col:9787 access:open type:article

urn:NBN:nl:ui:15-1765/19960 2012-11-14T12:24:05 mods http://hdl.handle.net/1765/19960 hdl:1765/19960 urn:NBN:nl:ui:15-1765/19960 An institutional embeddedness of welfare opinions? The link between public opinion and social policy in the Netherlands (1970-2004) text article http://hdl.handle.net/1765/19960 http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/19960/Version%20of%20Record.url.txt http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/19960/Institutional%20embeddedness%20of%20welfare%20opinionsJSP_def.pdf Abstract A major shortcoming in the existing literature on welfare state legitimacy is that it cannot explain when social policy designs follow public preferences and when public opinion follows existing policy designs and why. Scholars examining the influence of public opinion on welfare policies as well as scholars investigating institutional influences on individual welfare attitudes find empirical evidence to support both relationships. While a relationship in both directions is plausible, scholars have yet to thoroughly investigate the mutual relationship between these two. Consequently, we still do not know under which circumstances welfare institutions invoke public approval of welfare policies and under which circumstances public opinion drives welfare policy. Taking a quantitative approach to public opinion and welfare state policies in the Netherlands, this paper addresses this issue in an attempt to increase our understanding of welfare state legitimacy. The results show that individual opinions influence relatively new policies, policies which are not yet fully established and where policy designs are still evolving and developing. Social policy, on the other hand, is found to influence individual opinions on established and highly institutionalised policies, but does not influence individual opinions in relatively new areas of social policy. Raven, J. Raven Judith aut Achterberg, P.H.J. Achterberg Peter aut Veen, R.J. van der Veen, van der Romke aut Yerkes, M.A. Yerkes Mara aut 275391655 298671840 07496691X 292373066 Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen (FSW); Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) Supporting host sht en English Journal of Social Policy 0047-2794 1 21 Centre for Rotterdam Cultural Sociology (CROCUS) http://repub.eur.nl/res/col/9787 2011-04-01 Sociology Sociale verandering, sociale processen en sociale conflicten Sociologie institutions public opinion old and new politics welfare legitimacy Erasmus University Rotterdam oai:repub.eur.nl/res/pub/19960 IR OAIPMH feed (http://repub.eur.nl/oai) 2010-07-08T08:13:05Z 2011-09-20T10:05:32Z http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess