Based on findings from innovative democratic forums carried out in Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom, Prof. Peter Taylor-Gooby discussed people’s ideas about welfare-state priorities at the last 2019 Qualidem open seminar. He showed that, among other findings, citizens’ attitudes reflect welfare regime differences—with distinctive emphasis on reciprocity and the value of work in Germany, inclusion and equality in Norway, and individual responsibility and the work-ethic in the UK. Neoliberal market-centered ideas appear to have made little headway concerning popular attitudes, except in the already economically liberal-leaning UK. In an additional closed seminar, Prof. Taylor-Gooby provided feedback on Qualidem’s use of the “moral economy” concept in qualitative research.
Prof. Peter Taylor-Gooby—University of Kent—”Moral economies of the welfare state: A qualitative comparative study”