ABSTRACT
The Swiss welfare state over the last 50 years has moved towards the Western European model of a welfare state characterised by strong liberal traits, but a full convergence has been delayed by various socio-economic, political and institutional factors. Since the 1980s, however, the Swiss welfare state has begun to accelerate towards the Western European model. This process is due to decisions taken in the past bringing about gradual reform of existing schemes, to increasing demands on the welfare state because of demographic and economic developments, and to the inability of Swiss institutions – once responsible for stalling welfare state development – to prevent convergence.
