O Welfare State resiste? Desenvolvimentos recentes do estado social nos países da OCDE / Is the Welfare State resisting? Recent developments of the social state in OECD countries

Resumo Neste artigo buscamos analisar alguns dos principais indicadores da evolução do estado de bem-estar social em países da OCDE entre 1980 e 2016. Em particular, buscamos avaliar se a crise iniciada em 2007-2008 teria implicado em contração do estado social. Nossa análise se desdobra no estudo do comportamento de três dimensões: o gasto social, seu financiamento tributário e sua efetividade. Nossa investigação revela que o século XXI tem sido um período de expansão, com gastos crescentes e "catch up" de países retardatários. Em particular, todas as grandes áreas de política social sofreram aumentos, ao lado de apostas ainda incipientes em políticas sociais "ativas". O gasto social tem sido financiado por um esforço tributário crescente, não de todo indiferente à progressividade, e tem se traduzido em crescente esforço de redistribuição. Contudo, desigualdades e pobreza avançam em ritmo superior.

Abstract In this paper an attempt was made to analyze some of the main indicators of the evolution of the welfare state in OECD countries between 1980 and 2016. In particular, an assessment was made to evaluate if the so-called Great Recession starting in 2008 led to a contraction of the social state. The analysis focused on three dimensions: social expenditure, funding, and effectiveness. The conclusion drawn was that the twenty-first century has been a period of expansion, both in terms of social expenditure and the catch-up of the latecomers. In particular, all traditional areas of social policy have expanded in tandem with a slight increase in "active" social policies. The rise in social expenditure has been financed by increasing taxation not thoroughly alien to progressivity principles. Overall, it has been translated into an increased effort for redistribution. However, inequality and poverty are advancing at a higher rate.

Welfare state e desenvolvimento / Welfare state and development / Welfare state et développement

The relations between the welfare state and development are frequently portrayed as problematic and even dilemmatic. For example, it is claimed that the welfare state is only possible in developed countries, or that typical welfare state redistribution is necessarily accompanied by weaker economic growth. The main purpose of this article is to systematize the arguments and evidence against these assumptions, featuring the functionality of the welfare state for development in both economic and non-economic terms.

Souvent, les rapports entre l'État du État-providence et le développement sont décrits comme source de problèmes et même de dilemmes. On présume, par exemple, que l'État du État-providence n'est possible que dans des pays développés, ou alors que la redistribution propre à l'Etat-providence a pour contrepartie une croissance économique moindre. Dans cet article, on cherche à réunir des arguments et justifications contraires à ces suppositions. Comme, par exemple, une démonstration sur la fonctionnalité de l'État-providence en faveur du développement, dans le sens économique et non-économique du terme.

Por que se importar com a desigualdade / Why worry about inequality

This article presents arguments from various fields to contend that socioeconomic inequalities be given priority treatment by national public policies, especially in countries where such inequalities abound. Based on the economic, sociological, and political science literature, the article gathers hypotheses and evidence indicating that inequalities, especially when excessive, should concern all those (even non-egalitarians), who ascribe importance to such objectives as economic growth, poverty reduction, social cohesion, and democracy. In addition, based on a reading of normative perspectives, the article attempts to map some of the challenges currently faced by egalitarianism. It concludes that even under pressure, especially from certain inherent aspects of contemporary economic inequalities, egalitarianism can develop in several directions