Journal Articles

Partisan Politics, the Welfare State, and Three Worlds of Human Capital Formation

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The authors propose a synthesis of power resources theory and welfare production regime theory to explain
differences in human capital formation across advanced democracies. Emphasizing the mutually reinforcing
relationships between social insurance, skill formation, and spending on public education, they distinguish three
distinct worlds of human capital formation: one characterized by redistribution and heavy investment in public education and industry-specific and occupation-specific vocational skills; one characterized by high social insurance and vocational training in firm-specific and industry-specific skills but less spending on public education; and one characterized by heavy private investment in general skills but modest spending on public education and redistribution. They trace the three worlds to historical differences in the organization of capitalism, electoral institutions, and partisan politics, emphasizing the distinct character of political coalition formation underpinning each of the three models. They also discuss the implications for inequality and labor market stratification across time and space.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Comparative Political Studies

Call Number

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Publisher

California : Sage Publications., 2008

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

0010-4140

Classification

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Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Vol. 41, No. 4/5, Page 600 - 637

Subject(s)

Education
Skills
Welfare states
Redistribution
Partisanship
Partisan Politics, the Welfare State

Specific Detail Info

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