Welfare reform in the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland: change within the limits of path dependence

摘要: In this article, we ask whether the principles of welfare redistribution have been altered in era ‘permanent austerity’; when pressures to dismantle (or at least cut down costs) social institutions due unfavourable economic and demographic developments strong. The primary finding from a systematic analysis disability benefit reform UK, Netherlands Finland between 1980 2006 is that, regardless ‘irresistible forces’ (Pierson 1998) urging for reforms, core European security provision preserved. Our findings speak path dependence institutions, but also call into question deterministic views on dependence. It argued article that does not predict policy-makers are unable alter systems, rather claim it delimits number options available policy makers.