ABSTRACT
The debate on the implications of globalization for institutions of social welfare has focused mainly on western industrial societies. In doing so it has glossed over some crucial aspects of this relationship, namely: (a) the destabilizing effect of financial openness on national economies and its implications for social protection (b) the influence of international financial institutions (IFIs), notably IMF and World Bank, on the social policy of nations and (c) the erosion of "social protection by other means" and its implications for welfare. The chapter substantiates this argument by looking at the globalization and welfare nexus in four groups of countries: the less developed, newly industrializing, ex-communist, and western industrial. In conclusion it emphasizes the need for an international perspective, besides national and cross-national ones, for an adequate understanding of the relationship between globalization and welfare. Given the broad scope of the topic the chapter aims at providing an overview. Thus data are used to illustrate points rather than to provide a detailed examination of the issues concerned.
