LIVABILITY OF THE WELFARE-STATE - APPRECIATION-OF-LIFE AND LENGTH-OF-LIFE IN NATIONS VARYING IN STATE-WELFARE-EFFORT

One issue in the debate on the welfare-state is whether state-care ren ders society more livable or not. The positive view is that people flo urish in the welfare-state, the negative view is that people thrive be tter without. This article approaches the dispute empirically, by comp aring livability of nations that differ in state-welfare-effort. The l ivability of nations is measured by the degree to which its citizens l ive long and happily. State-welfare-effect is measured by the scope of welfare-laws and the size of state-welfare-expenditures. Data on aver age appreciation-of-life around 1980 are available for 28 nations; mos tly rich ones. Appreciation-of-life appears somewhat greater in the na tions that provide most state-welfare. However, that difference is ent irely due to parallel differences in economic affluence. Data on chang e in life-satisfaction between 1950 and 1980 are available for only 10 nations, all rich ones. Life-satisfaction did not increase more in th e nations where state-welfare expanded most. Data on length-of-life in 1980 are available for 97 nations, of which 28 rich ones. Life-expect ancy appears to be greater in the nations that provide most state-welf are, but again the difference disappears when income per head is contr olled. Data on change in life-expectancy 1965-1985 are available for 3 5 nations. Gains in life-expectancy appear not greater in the nations were state-welfare expanded most. It is concluded that state involveme nt in welfare provision does not create a more livable society. Appare ntly, non-state welfare works out equally well in present day conditio ns.