Welfare State Administration and the East Asian Welfare Regime

Abstract

Abstract The main subject of this chapter is the real-typical side of comparative welfare regime analysis. Welfare state systems from Singapore, South Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan are examined from a close distance, focusing on their in-depth institutional particularities. When looking at East Asian welfare state systems, it is useful to apply an ideal-typical (Weberian) method especially when looking at larger international and historical developments, while other methods of applying real types are also highly beneficial for welfare state analysis in comparative perspective. When applying the real-typical method, in particular, the relative weaknesses and strengths of various welfare subsystems come into sharper view, as seen in this chapter’s review of specific welfare state systems in Asia. Important insights are gained about the extent to which incentive structures of each social security system increase or decrease effectiveness and efficiency of the overall welfare state system in place.