Opinions of Czechs about the Welfare State

Abstract

Examines links between three levels of legitimacy of the concept of the welfare state: preferred principles, attitudes toward specific policies, & desired solutions. It is based on two 1998/99 representative surveys of the Czech population, 1989-1998 family budget data, & international comparisons, in particular with the Netherlands. Why & in what respect Czech citizens consider the current social policy to be ineffective is considered mainly owing to the perceived lack of reciprocity between its benefits & its costs, & because individual gain is the predominant motivation behind support for social policy among the great majority of Czech citizens. This is argued to cause a loss of trust & interest in the government's policy, leading to a pursuit of more efficient solutions through private insurance systems, which promises protection against growing social uncertainty while providing less solidarity.