The Political Economy of the Small Welfare State in South Korea

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, International, Social Science
Cover of the book The Political Economy of the Small Welfare State in South Korea by Jae-jin Yang, Cambridge University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jae-jin Yang ISBN: 9781108245012
Publisher: Cambridge University Press Publication: September 28, 2017
Imprint: Cambridge University Press Language: English
Author: Jae-jin Yang
ISBN: 9781108245012
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication: September 28, 2017
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Language: English

This book explains why the Korean welfare state is underdeveloped despite successful industrialization, democratization, a militant labor movement, and a centralized meritocracy. Unlike most social science books on Korea, which tend to focus on its developmental state and rapid economic development, this book deals with social welfare issues and politics during the critical junctures in Korea's history: industrialization in the 1960–70s, the democratization and labor movement in the mid-1980s, globalization and the financial crisis in the 1990s, and the wind of free welfare in the 2010s. It highlights the self-interested activities of Korea's enterprise unionism at variance with those of a more solidaristic industrial unionism in the European welfare states. Korean big business, the chaebol, accommodated the unions' call for higher wages and more corporate welfare, which removed practical incentives for unions to demand social welfare. Korea's single-member-district electoral rules also induce politicians to sell geographically targeted, narrow benefits rather than public welfare for all while presidents are significantly constrained by unpopular tax increase issues. Strong economic bureaucrats acting as veto player also lead Korea to a small welfare state.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book explains why the Korean welfare state is underdeveloped despite successful industrialization, democratization, a militant labor movement, and a centralized meritocracy. Unlike most social science books on Korea, which tend to focus on its developmental state and rapid economic development, this book deals with social welfare issues and politics during the critical junctures in Korea's history: industrialization in the 1960–70s, the democratization and labor movement in the mid-1980s, globalization and the financial crisis in the 1990s, and the wind of free welfare in the 2010s. It highlights the self-interested activities of Korea's enterprise unionism at variance with those of a more solidaristic industrial unionism in the European welfare states. Korean big business, the chaebol, accommodated the unions' call for higher wages and more corporate welfare, which removed practical incentives for unions to demand social welfare. Korea's single-member-district electoral rules also induce politicians to sell geographically targeted, narrow benefits rather than public welfare for all while presidents are significantly constrained by unpopular tax increase issues. Strong economic bureaucrats acting as veto player also lead Korea to a small welfare state.

More books from Cambridge University Press

Cover of the book Africa and World War II by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Institutional Work by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Russia and Courtly Europe by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Handbook of CTG Interpretation by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Margaret Thatcher and the Middle East by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Planning Lessons and Courses by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Bilingualism in the Community by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book The Cambridge Companion to F. Scott Fitzgerald by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book A First Course in Analysis by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Lord Rochester in the Restoration World by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book National Liberation in Postcolonial Southern Africa by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Origen: Contra Celsum by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Time and Literature by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Emotional Lives by Jae-jin Yang
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy