Discerning self-interested behaviour in attitudes towards welfare state responsibilities across Europe

Abstract

This article reports on an investigation into the influence of individual characteristics on attitudes to government responsibility for welfare-related tasks using data from the European Social Survey. The main finding of this investigation was that socio-demographic characteristics, basic personal values, a left-right ideological position and religious affiliation were all associated with attitudes towards welfare policies. An item-by-item examination of the six issues enquired about in the survey revealed that people tended to hold the government responsible for tasks that would benefit them more directly. Taken as a whole, the empirical findings were interpreted to mean that individuals' tastes for welfare state policies were driven, at least partially, by self-interest, but it was also noted that further work was needed to disentangle the potential role of group loyalty effects.