Comparative analysis : principles and approaches

Comparative analysis:principles and approaches

Course European Social Policy

3 Comparative analysis 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


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.


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


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


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.


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)


Different theoretical perspectives in comparing social policiesSocioeconomic

modernization theories Wilensky Cutwright JackmannThe states respond to

general processes of economic growth and societal modernization with basically similar social policies

Cultural values approach Rimlinger King Caim-Caudle Almond VerbaThe 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 policiesA party government

framework Castles Rose PetersCapacities of political

institutions (governments and political parties) to translate the preferences of citizens into social policies

Political class struggle model

Gough Offe StephensThe 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 policiesNeo-corporatism Schmitter Lehmbruch WilenskyThe 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 MarchInstitutional

frameworks (nation states, Welfare States, societal institutions) influence social policy making


Different theoretical perspectives in comparing social policiesSocial capital theory PutnamThe civic engagement of

people through civic associations effects the functioning of democratic institutions

Processes of social policy making

Jones PetersSocial policy is understood as

a sequence of problem identification, social policy formation, implementation, and evaluation

Globalization and Europeanization

Wright BougetOperational space

of the European Welfare States is increasingly defined by external factors of economic globalization and the European Union‘s legal and political framework


How to mix theories up? Example: model of social policy formation and implementation

Cultural traditions

Political ideologies

SOCIAL POLICY FORMATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Attitudes and behaviourof the population

Political and economic institutions

Economic resources


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 most comparisons 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?


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


Comparing Welfare States: different research strategies Social expenditure approach (% of GDP)

Wilenski, Mahler, KatzData 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.


Comparing Welfare States: different research strategies The concept of decommodification

Esping-AndersenThe 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.


Comparing Welfare States: different research strategies

The mixed approachThe selection of some key indicators corresponding to research

questions, combined with institutional/right approachExample: 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?


Methodological considerationsWhat 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 periodsCore 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)


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 2004NMS (AC10) – 10 New Member States since May

2004CC3 – 3 candidate countries: Romania, Bulgaria,

TurkeyAvailable at

http://www.eurofound.ie/publications/files/EF04105EN.pdf


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


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

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Turk

ey

Rom

ania

Bul

garia

.

Latv

ia

Lith

uani

a

Est

onia

Pol

and

Slo

vaki

a

Hun

gary

.

Cze

ch R

ep

Gre

ece

Mal

ta

Slo

veni

a

Por

tuga

l

Cyp

rus

Spa

in

.

Sw

eden U

K

Fran

ce

Ger

man

y

Italy

Finl

and

Bel

gium

Net

herla

nds

Aus

tria

Irela

nd

Den

mar

k

Luxe

mbo

urg

Index EU25=100


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)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Turk

ey

Rom

ania

Bul

garia

.

Latv

ia

Lith

uani

a

Est

onia

Pol

and

Slo

vaki

a

Hun

gary

.

Cze

ch R

ep

Mal

ta

Gre

ece

Slo

veni

a

Por

tuga

l

Cyp

rus

Spa

in

.

Sw

eden U

K

Fran

ce

Ger

man

y

Italy

Finl

and

Bel

gium

Net

herla

nds

Aus

tria

Irela

nd

Den

mar

k

Luxe

mbo

urg

% poor re country medians

% poor re EU25 median


Life satisfaction(Source: Böhnke, 2004)

4,55,4

5,55,65,65,7

5,95,96,0

6,16,26,2

6,56,8

6,97,07,1

7,27,27,27,27,37,3

7,47,57,5

7,77,77,77,8

8,08,4

0,0 1,0 2,0 3,0 4,0 5,0 6,0 7,0 8,0 9,0

BGLTLVTR

CC3SKEEHUPT

AC1PLROCZGRFRSI

EU25CY

ITEU15

DEMTUKBEESNLIE

LUATSEFI

DK

life satisfaction, mean


Happiness(Source: Böhnke, 2004)

5,8

6,4

6,4

6,4

6,5

6,6

6,8

6,8

6,9

6,9

7,1

7,1

7,2

7,3

7,4

7,5

7,5

7,6

7,6

7,6

7,7

7,7

7,8

7,8

7,8

7,9

7,9

7,9

8,0

8,1

8,1

8,3

0,0 1,0 2,0 3,0 4,0 5,0 6,0 7,0 8,0 9,0

BG

LV

LT

TR

SK

CC3

EE

PT

PL

AC10

HU

RO

CZ

FR

SI

EU25

IT

GR

EU15

DE

NL

BE

CY

UK

ES

AT

MT

SE

LU

IE

FI

DK

happiness, mean


Alienation(Source: Böhnke, 2004)

2,84

2,75

2,57

2,44

2,43

2,34

2,32

2,22

2,17

2,07

2,02

1,96

1,95

1,94

1,81

1,8

1,78

1,71

1,71

1,66

1,62

1,59

1,56

1,54

1,48

1,45

1,4

1,39

1,32

1,29

1,19

0,83

0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3

BG

SL

TK

LI

CC3

GR

PL

AC10

LV

HU

SI

RO

EE

CY

MT

CZ

IT

BE

PT

EU25

UK

FR

EU15

DE

LU

SE

ES

NL

IE

FI

AT

DK

alienation index, mean


Subjective well-being in country groups (Source: Böhnke, 2004)7,2

7,6

1,6

6,1

6,9

2,2

5,6

6,6

2,4

Life satisfaction Happiness Alienation

me

an

EU 15 AC 10 CC 3


Life satisfaction and GDP per capita (Source: Böhnke, 2004)


Happiness and GDP per capita

(Source: Böhnke, 2004)


Alienation and GDP per capita

(Source: Böhnke, 2004)


Comparative analysis in public and social policy: theories, methods, examplesCore 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.

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Comparative analysis : principles and approaches