The welfare state, also known as welfare state, is a political and economic model with which a nation supports services under the fulfillment of social rights to the greater possible number of inhabitants and thus seek an equivalence in the economic distribution that favors the general welfare of the population.
In this article you will find:
What is a welfare state?
The welfare state model is a set of actions carried out by the government of a State to achieve the greatest possible redistribution of resources, satisfy basic needs and optimize the general welfare of the population.
Advertisements
For this, the State produces an intervention in the economy and society and thus end inequality and facilitate certain benefits equitably among society. The State must also assume the responsibility of providing services such as health and education for free and without discriminating against citizens.
Advertisements
The State must also provide other benefits, which are pillars of the welfare state such as unemployment, social services, retirement or disability and also seeks to guarantee the rights of populations with the greatest need and reduce exploitation labor.
Main characteristics of a welfare state
The characteristics of the welfare state are classified as follows:
Advertisements
Ensures social welfare
Within the economic system, despite showing capitalist features, social welfare comprises a mixed economic system, even when the combination of capitalist characteristics and socialists. In this sense, the government seeks to dominate economic activities and guarantees the social welfare of citizens.
Guarantees equal rights to the entire population
The State does not discriminate and grants equal rights to all people regardless of their race or religion.
Advertisements
His nature is socialist
Because it is based on principles of equality, it offers the same opportunities to all people, in the same way it aims to guarantee an equitable economic distribution.
Seeks to take control in all economic activities
Inside of the welfare state model, private companies are regulated by the government system.
Advertisements
Greater moral development of citizens
This model allows to create an environment based on the moral development of people. When a person can satisfy his basic needs, enjoy freedom and exercise his rights, he increases his confidence, his strengths and can develop properly.
Provide individuals with critical facilities
The government has a duty to provide citizens with all basic economic and social services, since it is interested in for providing adequate services such as general education, transportation, financial assistance, public health, and housing, among others.
Helps start and manage new businesses
The welfare government is in charge of business ownership and operation, commercial businesses, and industry.
Guarantees justice for all citizens
Every citizen for most of his needs should be related to authorities such as control officials, authorities of sanctions, public sector business executives, administrative officials and social services officials, among others. In either case, you are guaranteed compliance with requirements and fair processes.
Interferes in the field of labor well-being
It is a model that has the responsibility of manifesting the corresponding laws that prevent the exploitation of workers, provide safety and comfort to all employees of companies, factories, industries and various sectors labor.
Plan different economic activities
This type of benefactor model has the obligation to create national banking, industrial and commercial activities and also plan economic activities where production and distribution are incorporated in a balanced.
Regulation of private companies
It is a system whose function is to regularize and control the operation of related private companies with economic activities, where licensing, taxes and registration of themselves.
Welfare state benefits
The welfare state system provides a series of benefits to the social development of citizens such as those shown below:
- It guarantees a high level of equality between people with the intention of preventing unfavorable problems.
- Provides supplies to a social support network that helps protect citizens from hunger, disease and misery in general.
- The government has a social assistance system that guarantees support to people who have a temporary crisis due to unemployment and to those who are most in need due to disability.
- The social support network also helps citizens to avoid falling into extreme poverty, offering them the availability of resources that promote social advancement through education.
- It allows the reduction of crime, since it avoids the lack of basic needs.
- It offers pensions that contribute to retirement payments, situations of orphaned children, disability and widowhood.
- It promotes the universal health system for free so that people who cannot pay have access to this service.
- It facilitates access to free education up to a certain level of instruction.
To a large degree, the welfare state It is based on the effective implementation of social welfare by the government in order to optimize the lives of citizens. That is why, at present, this context seeks to be effective in its operation to favor the protection, industrial administration, social services and good control of the economy.
Sources and references
- Kenton W. (2020 November)
- Nandana (2011 June) Concept, definition and characteristics of welfare state.
