ABSTRACT
This chapter examines some of the recent changes in the structure of the welfare state in response to the pressures noted in Chapter 1, together with some of the geographical manifestations of these changes. The most basic change in welfare regimes throughout the world has been a decline in direct provision by the state. This decline has put greater reliance upon other sources of welfare provision: by families, by charities and by private markets. Dependence upon a variety of modes of welfare provision has been termed welfare pluralism (Johnson, 1987) and the mixed economy of welfare (Pinker, 1992). In addition, there has been an erosion of many of the broad features of welfare statism: the commitment to full employment, workers’ rights and adequate minimum standards for all citizens (Pfaller et al., 1991).
