Comparing Child Poverty in Sweden and the UK
This assignment will identify the three welfare regime models as described by Esping-Anderson and provide further insight into the welfare regime used in Sweden for the provision of children and families requiring welfare assistance. It will attempt to look at the stability of the political environment in relation to child welfare provision and compare this with the implemented sure start programs in the UK. The assignment will compare current statistical information relating to children and families in need of welfare service provision looking at current spending in Sweden and the UK and percentages of them needing provision. It will look at the consensus on how these respective countries are governed in relation to taxes and services provided. The comparison of the legislative frameworks surrounding children and families will be discussed and similarities and differences of how the service is organised, funded and who has accountability for it will be highlighted. The impact that neo-liberalism and globalisation has had on Sweden and the UK will be presented in relation to children and families. An analysis of the issues of race, class, religion, disability, age, gender and sexuality will be argued and a critical discussion of how effectively these issues have been addressed within this service provision will be made.
Esping-Anderson (2006) suggests that before establishing theoretical ideologies of the welfare state it must be understood how state activities are linked with the markets and the family’s role in social provision. He discusses how de-commodification gives strength to workers and weakens employers where services are seen as a right and people can continue to make a living without depending on the market. This is not evident in all welfare states in some there must be a demonstration of need for the minimum benefits. Esping-Anderson (1990) identified groups of countries and categorised them into three...