Increasing Demands on the Welfare State? Trends in Behavior and Attitudes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Increasing Demands on the Welfare State? Trends in Behavior and Attitudes

AU - Ljunge, Jan Martin

N1 - JEL classification: H31, I18, J22, Z13

PY - 2011/12/1

Y1 - 2011/12/1

N2 - We find that younger generations in Sweden demand more social insurance compared with the older generations, although program rules have been constant for decades. The trend is strong, almost one % point higher take up per cohort, and robust across demographic groups. These trends in behavior are mirrored in attitudes toward benefit uptake in a broad set of countries, including Sweden. Younger generations have a more relaxed attitude toward claiming public benefits. Our findings indicate that younger generations demand more from the welfare state, and our behavioral data from Sweden quantify the speed at which demand is increasing.

AB - We find that younger generations in Sweden demand more social insurance compared with the older generations, although program rules have been constant for decades. The trend is strong, almost one % point higher take up per cohort, and robust across demographic groups. These trends in behavior are mirrored in attitudes toward benefit uptake in a broad set of countries, including Sweden. Younger generations have a more relaxed attitude toward claiming public benefits. Our findings indicate that younger generations demand more from the welfare state, and our behavioral data from Sweden quantify the speed at which demand is increasing.

U2 - 10.1093/cesifo/ifr011

DO - 10.1093/cesifo/ifr011

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0013-0362

VL - 57

SP - 605

EP - 622

JO - Economic Studies

JF - Economic Studies

IS - 4

ER -