Preferences for redistribution : an empirical analysis

People's preferences for state intervention in social policies vary. A cross-section analysis on individual-level survey data is conducted here to highlight the link between the economic position of agents and their specific demand for redistribution. Controlling for a number of factors usually found to affect individual preferences in the literature, the egoistic motives for redistribution are taken seriously and this article focuses on the role played by the occupational status of individuals in shaping their preferences. Thus, the relative importance of economic factors in terms of current and expected gains is estimated, taking into account individuals' experience of social mobility and risk aversion. Furthermore, the research presented here identifies which socio-political groups may be formed on the basis of their preferences for redistribution.Redistribution, occupation, social mobility, ordered logit regression.

The political economy of neo-liberalism in Italy and France

There are many apparent similarities between the current political and economic situations of France and Italy. The mainstream view is that at least part of the neo-liberal strategy could be a solution to the economic problems of both variants of the European model of capitalism. However, the difficulties met by the implementation of these strategies by Sarkozy and Berlusconi lead to believe that the success or failure of neo-liberalisation has less to do with its (lack of) macroeconomic merits than with the stability of the socio-political alliances that support it. In this respect, France and Italy are markedly different. This paper shows that even if the "hard core" of the neoliberal social bloc is roughly the same in both countries, this core constitutes a minority of the electorate ; a neoliberal strategy must therefore rely on an extended social coalition, which might not be similar between countries. The Great Recession revealed part of the structural characteristics that set both countries apart. The aim of this article is to show that the consideration of the different socio-political alliances found in each country can help to understand how Italy and France ended up on different economic trajectories.Institutions, model of capitalism, neoliberal reforms, political crisis.

How does Party Fractionalization convey Preferences for Redistribution in Parliamentary Democracies ?

In this paper, we highlight the link between the political demand and social policy outcome while taking into account the design of the party system. The political demand is measured by indivudual preferences and the design of the party system is defined as the extent of party fractionalization. This is, to our knowledge, the first attempt in the literature to empirically link the political demand and the policy outcome with the help of a direct measure of preferences. Moreover, we account for an additional channel, so far neglected in the literature : The composition effect of the demand. Indeed, the heterogeneity of the demand within countries, more than the level of the demand itself, is shown to have a positive impact on welfare state generosity. This impact increases with the degree of fractionalization of the party system. We run regressions on a sample of 18 OECD countries over 23 years, carefully dealing with the issues raised by the use of time-series cross-section data.Political demand, party fractionalization, redistribution, time-series-cross-section data.

How does party fractionalization convey preferences for redistribution in parliamentary democracies?

In this paper, we highlight the link between the political demand and social policy outcome while taking into account the design of the party system. The political demand is measured by individual preferences and the design of the party system is defined as the extent of party fractionalization. This is, to our knowledge, the first attempt in the literature to empirically link the political demand and the policy outcome with the help of a direct measure of preferences. Moreover, we account for an additional channel, so far neglected in the literature: The composition effect of the demand. Indeed, the heterogeneity of the demand within countries, more than the level of the demand itself, is shown to have a positive impact on welfare state generosity. This impact increases with the degree of fractionalization of the party system. We run regressions on a sample of 18 OECD countries over 23 years, carefully dealing with the issues raised by the use of time-series cross-section data.political demand ; party fractionalization ; redistribution ; time-series cross-section data

Preferences for redistribution : an empirical analysis

URL des Documents de travail : http://centredeconomiesorbonne.univ-paris1.fr/bandeau-haut/documents-de-travail/Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 2011.30 - ISSN : 1955-611XPeople's preferences for state intervention in social policies vary. A cross-section analysis on individual-level survey data is conducted here to highlight the link between the economic position of agents and their specific demand for redistribution. Controlling for a number of factors usually found to affect individual preferences in the literature, the egoistic motives for redistribution are taken seriously and this article focuses on the role played by the occupational status of individuals in shaping their preferences. Thus, the relative importance of economic factors in terms of current and expected gains is estimated, taking into account individuals' experience of social mobility and risk aversion. Furthermore, the research presented here identifies which socio-political groups may be formed on the basis of their preferences for redistribution.Les préférences des individus pour l'intervention de l'Etat dans les politiques sociales varient. Une analyse transversale des données d'enquête au niveau individuel est effectuée ici pour mettre en évidence le lien entre la situation économique des agents et leur demande spécifique en matière de redistribution. Notre échantillon, issu des données ISSP 2006 (module "rôle du gouvernement IV"), se compose de 33 démocraties. Tout en contrôlant par un certain nombre de facteurs généralement considérés par la littérature comme affectant les préférences individuelles, cette recherche prend au sérieux les motifs égoïstes de redistribution. L'article met alors l'accent sur le rôle joué par la situation professionnelle des individus dans l'élaboration de leurs préférences. Ainsi, l'importance relative des facteurs économiques en termes de gains actuels et attendus est estimée, en tenant compte de l'expérience de mobilité sociale des individus et de leur aversion au risque. Enfin, les groupes sociopolitiques pouvant être formés sur la base de préférences communes pour la redistribution sont identifiés

Can Capitalists Afford Economic Growth? An Animation

capitalist mode of power crisis economic growth income distribution sabotage stagnation unemployment utilityDespite the global dominance of capitalism, economic growth continues to weaken. Mainstream economists blame the slowdown on various ‘distortions’, but as this animation shows, the reality is quite different. Capitalists seek not more income per se, but greater power-through-redistribution, which they achieve by stymying growth. Duration: 10:26 minutes

Where is Germany heading?

At a moment when Germany is the focus of much attention on the European scene, Notre Europe has turned to a series of experts who examine the changes that have taken place in Germany’s European policy. What are the current driving actors and forces? Can Germany really be considered more inward-looking than it used to be? Is this a long-term trend? Contributions have been made by German (or German-Greek) experts and are completed by a British external point of view

Bringer of Death: Explaining the Severity of the Black Death in Medieval England

What caused the Black Death in the 14th century to be more severe than any other plague outbreak? This article argues that the Bovine Pestilence, and the consequent protein malnutrition, has contributed to an inadequate immune system for the English population. As a result, the mortality rates during the plague outbreak were high. By using contemporary insights on the Y. Pestis bacterium and immunodeficiencies, and combining that with historical data on the Black Death in the 14th century, this article uses an interdisciplinary approach to come to a broader understanding of the severity of the 14th century pandemic

Intégration de l'art-thérapie dans un atelier et conditions-cadre

La recherche porte sur la question de l’intégration de l’art-thérapie au sein d’un atelier géré par un maître socioprofessionnel. Elle décrit l’art-thérapie et ses différentes techniques et composantes. Cette recherche porte également sur les compétences de l’art-thérapeute et du maître socioprofessionnel ainsi que sur les conditions-cadre pour mettre sur pied une collaboration interprofessionnelle. L’enquête réalisée auprès des deux groupes de professionnels met en lumière les points positifs et négatifs à cette intégration et permet également de définir les conditions-cadre pour une bonne collaboration. Les différentes observations faites dans des ateliers d’artthérapie ont permis de définir le cadre thérapeutique que demande cette discipline