WORLDS OF WELFARE AND ATTITUDES TO REDISTRIBUTION - A COMPARISON OF 8WESTERN NATIONS

In this paper attitudes to redistribution in eight Western nations are analysed, using data from the International Social Survey Program (IS SP). The paper begins with a discussion of various 'regime types' as p resented by Esping-Andersen and Castles and Mitchell, among others. Co untries ate then chosen to represent four 'twin pairs' of countries, a pproximating four 'worlds of welfare capitalism': the social democrati c (Sweden/Norway), the conservative (Germany/Austria), the liberal (US /Canada), and the radical (Australia/New Zealand). The empirical analy sis assesses whether attitudes to redistribution and income difference s are structured in the way suggested by the discussion of different c leavage structures in various regime types. It is concluded that while the level of attitudes regarding redistribution and income difference s clearly is affected by regime type, group patterns are very similar between all the countries.