Comparative analysis : principles and approaches

1. Comparative analysis:principles and approaches CourseEuropean Social Policy

2. Comparative analysis in public and social policy: theories, methods, examples • Overview of methods frequently used to study social policy • Comparative analysis: principles, theories, approaches • Example of comparative analysis: Representative survey of the 25 EU Member States plus Bulgaria, Rumania and Turkey: Quality of life in Europe 3 Comparative analysis

3. Overview of methods frequently used to study social policy • Case studies (configurative approach: in-deep „thick“ studies) • Event analysis • Statistical data analysis • Interviews • Process analysis • Representative surveys / Public opinion polls • Expert surveys / Focus groups • Comparative analysis (broad, but shallower approach: more descriptive studies) Case studies can be more culturally specific, can allow for more insight and more in-depth theoretical explanation; comparative analysis enables learning from natural experiments conducted at the expense of others; nevertheless, it is more rigid and selective in terms of data to be processed. 3 Comparative analysis

4. Comparative analysis: principles and approaches „Without comparisons to make, the mind doesn‘t know how to proceed.“ Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America „By accessing one situation against another, we gain a better perspective on our current situation as well as the options and constraints we face. We learn through comparing.“ „Comparative public policy is the study of how, why, and what effect different governments pursue particular courses of action or inaction.“ Heidenheimer, Heclo, Adams: Comparative Public Policy „Only comparative empirical research will adequately disclose the fundamental properties that unite or divide modern welfare states.“ Esping- Andersen: The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism 3 Comparative analysis

5. Comparative analysis: principles and approaches • Reasons for comparing social policies • Different theoretical perspectives in comparing social policies • Core problems of comparative analysis • Types of studies in Comparative Politics • Analyzing Welfare States: different research strategies • Methodological considerations 3 Comparative analysis

6. Reasons for comparing social policies • To acquire a deeper understanding of how governments and institutions operate as they deal with social problems, what is the role of other actors, and what are the effects of social policies. Do social policies matter? • To look for guidance in designing better social policies. • To have better evidence for harmonization and coordination of national social policies within the European Union Comparative analysis thus occupies a middle ground between the pure science and the applied science, engaged in policy consultancy and advice. 3 Comparative analysis

7. Levels of comparison • Macro-level Theories • Systems theory:elements, relations, borders, external factors, feedback loops, black boxes with inputs and outputs, open vs. closed systems… (Easton, Ashby, …cybernetics) • Structural functionalism: states and other institutions have evolved with identifiable structures and functions: regulation, distribution, responsiveness, interest aggregation etc. (Parsons, Coleman) • Meso-level Theories • Policy styles: governments differ in their ability to impose their policy goals and in their willingness to act in preventive pro-active way (Richardson) • Theory of bureaucracy: bureaucracies exist in rather similar formats, executing similar functions, and develop specific relations to political class (Weber, Blondel, Osborne-Gaebler) 3 Comparative analysis

8. Socioeconomic modernization theories Wilensky Cutwright Jackmann The states respond to general processes of economic growth and societal modernization with basically similar social policies Cultural values approach Rimlinger King Caim-Caudle Almond Verba The influence of deeply embedded cultural ideas and patterns of behavior (e.g., civic culture) arising from distinctive histories on Social Welfare Different theoretical perspectives in comparing social policies 3 Comparative analysis

9. A party government framework Castles Rose Peters Capacities of political institutions (governments and political parties) to translate the preferences of citizens into social policies Political class struggle model Gough Offe Stephens The Welfare State is shaped by the contest between the business forces driven by capitalist accumulation and labour and its representation Different theoretical perspectives in comparing social policies 3 Comparative analysis

10. Neo-corporatism Schmitter Lehmbruch Wilensky The capacity to frame, coordinate and implement social policies depends on strongly organized interest blocks (labour, professionals, employers) and institutions of interest intermediation Institutionalism Weyr Heclo Skocpol Olsen March Institutional frameworks (nation states, Welfare States, societal institutions) influence social policy making Different theoretical perspectives in comparing social policies 3 Comparative analysis

11. Social capital theory Putnam The civic engagement of people through civic associations effects the functioning of democratic institutions Processes of social policy making Jones Peters Social policy is understood as a sequence of problem identification, social policy formation, implementation, and evaluation Globalization and Europeanization Wright Bouget Operational space of the European Welfare States is increasingly defined by external factors of economic globalization and the European Union‘s legal and political framework Different theoretical perspectives in comparing social policies 3 Comparative analysis

12. How to mix theories up?Example: model of social policy formation and implementation Culturaltraditions Political ideologies SOCIAL POLICY FORMATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Attitudes and behaviour of the population Political and economic institutions Economic resources 3 Comparative analysis

13. Core problems of comparative analysis • Galton‘s problem: how to sort out diffusion of cultural or institutional patterns from other causes of difference/similarity • How to integrate the behaviour and other qualities of individuals and the characteristics of collective entities • How to select cases: • Problem of similarity/diversity: as mostcomparisons prefer selecting most similar cases, Skocpol, Przeworski and Teune are in favour of the selection of most different ones • Problem of „theory fit“ • How to „maximize experimental variance, minimize error variance, and control extraneous variance“(Peters) • How to apply several theories in one research perspective? 3 Comparative analysis

14. Types of studies in Comparative Politics - according to Peters (1998) • Single country studies: (with some reference to other countries) • Process and institution studies:policy process cycles, tax policies • Typology formation studies:Welfare State typologies • Regional statistical analyses:Welfare states in Western Europe, Latin America, transition countries…; Eurostat, Laeken indicators • Global statistical studies:United Nations, OECD, World Bank, World Health Organization, International Labour Organization overviews; Luxembourg Income Study 3 Comparative analysis

15. Comparing Welfare States: different research strategies • Social expenditure approach (% of GDP) Wilenski, Mahler, Katz Data are mostly easily available. Nevertheless, this approach does not cover services in kind; it does not analyze the cost-efficiency of social schemes and programs and their real impact on clients‘ social situation • Rights approach (benefits level, criteria of eligibility, the extent of selectivity/universal coverage) Korpi, Palme, Kangas Based on social rights theory; it is very demanding in terms of data availability. 3 Comparative analysis

16. Comparing Welfare States: different research strategies • The concept of decommodification Esping-Andersen The analysis of the extent to which benefit eligibility depends on access to the market. The more universal benefits are, the more decommodified is the Welfare State: „The outstanding criterion for social rights must be the degree to which they permit people to make their living standards independent on pure market forces.“ (The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, 1990:3) • Case studies over time (e.g. national monographs dealing with social security system) Deep analysis of the development of particular case (mostly state), based on the mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. 3 Comparative analysis

17. Comparing Welfare States: different research strategies • The mixed approach The selection of some key indicators corresponding to research questions, combined with institutional/right approach Example:set of variables to analyze the similarities and differences between social services delivery in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands • Regulatory structure • Financing structure • Delivery structure • Consumer power (Alber) Do you know what will be your research strategy in preparing your paper? 3 Comparative analysis

18. Methodological considerations What are the dimensions of a comparison: • Objects (nations, regions, „natural groups“, sectors of services, coverage, rights, expenditures, programmes, Welfare State regimes…) • Time periods • Combination of objects and time periods Core questions: • How to find identical entities to be compared in different countries (objects, language) • How to set up indicators able to represent analyzed social phenomena • How to cope with rapidly changing conditions • How to deal with the complexity of issues (in other words, how to simplify without unbearable distortions) 3 Comparative analysis

19. Example of comparative analysis:Representative survey „Quality of Life in Europe“ Conducted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin, Ireland as a representative Pan-European empirical survey (random sampling, about 1000 persons aged 18 and over from each country) in summer 2003. 28 European countries involved: EU15 – 15 EU Member States before May 2004 NMS (AC10)– 10 New Member States since May 2004 CC3– 3 candidate countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey Available at http://www.eurofound.ie/publications/files/EF04105EN.pdf 3 Comparative analysis

20. Quality of Life in Europe • Quality of life is a multi-dimensional concept, refers to each individual‘s life situation, and is measured by objective as well as subjective indicators • Six core areas covered: • Employment • Economic resources • Family and household • Community life and social participation • Health and health care • Knowledge, education and training 3 Comparative analysis

21. GDP per capita (PPS) at country level(Source: European Commission 2004, Fahey, T. 2004) 3 Comparative analysis

22. Household poverty (% at risk of poverty) at country level and EU level - below 60% of country medians and EU25 median Source: EQLS data, Fahey, T. (2004) 3 Comparative analysis

23. Life satisfaction(Source: Böhnke, 2004) 3 Comparative analysis

24. Happiness(Source: Böhnke, 2004) 3 Comparative analysis

25. Alienation(Source: Böhnke, 2004) 3 Comparative analysis

26. Subjective well-being in country groups (Source: Böhnke, 2004) 3 Comparative analysis

27. Life satisfaction and GDP per capita (Source: Böhnke, 2004) 3 Comparative analysis

28. Happiness and GDP per capita(Source: Böhnke, 2004) 3 Comparative analysis

29. Alienation and GDP per capita(Source: Böhnke, 2004) 3 Comparative analysis

30. Comparative analysis in public and social policy:theories, methods, examples Core literature: Heidenheimer, A.J. – Heclo, H. – Adams, C.T.: Comparative Public Policy. The Politics of Social Choice in America, Europe, and Japan. New York, St. Martin Press 1990. Complementary literature: Alber, J.: A Framework for the Comparative Study of Social Services. In: Journal of European Social Policy, 1995, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 131-149. Böhnke, P.: Patterns of Subjective Quality of Life in the Enlarged Europe, Berlin, Social Science Center, October 2004. Powerpoint presentation at the seminar. Castles, F.G.: Comparative Public Policy. Patterns of Post-war Transformation. Cheltenham, Edward Elgar 1998. Fahey, T.: Living Standards Graphs, Berlin, Social Science Center, October 2004. Powerpoint presentation at the seminar. Kenneth, P. (ed.): A Handbook of Comparative Social Policy. Mabbett, D. – Bolderson, H.: Theories and Methods in Comparative Social Policy. In: Clasen, J. (ed.): Comparative Social Policy: Concepts, Theories and methods. Oxford, Blackwell 1999, pp. 34-56. Peters, B.G.: Comparative Politics. Theory and Methods. New York, Palgrave 1998. Quality of Life in Europe. Dublin, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions 2004. Available at http://www.eurofound.ie/publications/files/EF04105EN.pdf. 3 Comparative analysis