Welfare States in the Era of Globalization

Theories on the relationship of globalization and welfare state can be classified into three groups. Globalists hold that globalization threatens welfare state and the anticipated result is its retreat. Sceptics hold that globalization does not constrain the authonomy of national policy. Revisionists hold that the troubles of welfare state are mainly caused by itself, globalization is not the cause but the consequence, and a part of their solutions. The effect of globalization is the grown demand for public expenditures and the fall of income sources. ícountries from different welfare state type face the same challenges but answers are largely depend on regime specific characteristics. In any type of wefare states, however, reforms are indispensable while implementation of them is quite a difficult task because of the insistence to welfare achievements. But if once they are implemented, different types will probably near to each other, and the traditional 'welfare state' will cease