Election and the Welfare State
This book is a collection of research achievements of Professor Hyeok Yong Kwon of the Center for the Study of Inequality and Democracy of Korea University. It consists of three parts: chapter one illustrates research trends in comparative political economics, chapter two focuses on “who, why, when people want welfare state”, and chapter three describes the relationship between election and welfare state. This study generally focuses on the selection of voters as demand side, but it can be confirmed that the author’s theoretical and methodological consistency is prominent. As following the book, readers can understand that where the author’s research interests are, in the intellectual history of political economy. Furthermore, individual study dictates the dynamics of voter preference within the labour market system and macroeconomic changes.
Through part two, the author emphasizes that citizens’ welfare state preferences are not fixed, but have been formed, reformed, and changed. What institutional mechanisms are being mobilized and integrated determine the policy, which in turn affects individual preferences. According to the author, research on support and demand in this complex structure requires more systematic inquiry and analysis. Through the author’s attitude, claiming the chapter six as ‘reckless research’, which analyzes the changes of domestic electoral politics in accordance with the structural change of globalization, readers can grasp the academic integrity of the author. It is the result of research that covers the authors’ interest in considering various variables ranging from home ownership, government trust, the role of trade unions, and fear of unemployment.
- Part 1. Research Trend of Comparative Political Economy
Chapter 1. Comparative Political Economy- Part 2. Who Wants the Welfare State?
Chapter 2. Preference of Labour Union and the Welfare State
Chapter 3. Who Supports a Redistribution Policy, and When?
Chapter 4. Real Estate and the Welfare State
Chapter 5. Inequality and Trust- Part 3. Election Politics and the Welfare State
Chapter 6. Globalization and Election
Chapter 7. Unemployment Problem and Voter’s Choice
Chapter 8. Inequality of Korea and Stratification of Political Preference
Chapter 9. Who Takes Power Is Important?