ABSTRACT
Comparison of Canadian and US welfare state developments attempt to identify both what unique characteristics distinguish the two North America countries and what common features set them apart from the countries of Western Europe. This chapter describes the major social programs in an international perspective. It discusses some of the major Canadian-American differences in the making of social policy. The chapter outlines developments in the two countries of major social policies: pensions, unemployment insurance, other income maintenance policies, and health insurance. It discusses the relevance of the North American experience to this international health care cost explosion as part of a more general discussion of the future of the welfare state. The striking fact about the development of the welfare state in Western Europe and North America is its diversity. The timing and sequence of programs, the extent of coverage, and the proportion of national income expended all vary significantly.
