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 Terrorism and the Ethics of War by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book The Great Powers and the International System by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book England and the Jews by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book The Invention of Tradition by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Politics and Power in the Multinational Corporation by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book John Clare and Community by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Critique of the Power of Judgment by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Mechanics of Solid Materials by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Virginia Woolf in Context by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Discovering Medieval Song by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Reproduction and Adaptation by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Ideology and Spatial Voting in American Elections by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Adapting Tests in Linguistic and Cultural Situations by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book Forced Migration in the Spanish Pacific World by Jae-jin Yang
Cover of the book The Trauma of Monastic Reform 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