Efforts & Outcomes of the Welfare State: Welfare Spending, Redistribution, and Quality of Society

Abstract

This study compared various welfare states along two dimensions—efforts and outcomes—with a view to finding policy implications for the welfare state in South Korea. To this end, the author compared the trends and current levels of welfare efforts by 23 welfare states in terms of public social spending, and examines the composition of such spending. Next, this study reviewed the distributive outcomes and quality of societies in these welfare states as reflecting the effects of their welfare policies, institutions, tax policies and spending programs.