Definition of Welfare State

The Welfare State is a political concept that has to do with a form of government in which the State, as its name says, cares for the welfare of all its citizens, that they do not lack anything, that they can satisfy their basic needs, providing in this case what they do not can get by their own means and then takes charge of the services and rights of a large part of the population considered humble or impoverished.

The Welfare State is a very recent phenomenon that had a lot of momentum in different parts of the world in the 20th century due to the different crises economic, wars and conflicts of various kinds that meant very harsh and difficult consequences for a large part of the populations Westerners.

The idea of ​​a Welfare State has existed since the middle of the 19th century when different social groups (especially the workers) began to fight for the recognition of their rights at the international.

Since then, and especially in the 20th century, starting with events such as the Great Depression of 1929, or the postwar times then From the 1st and 2nd World Wars, the notion of a State arises that is in charge of providing those humble or disadvantaged sectors with certain services and assistance to complement what they cannot get in an unequal or unjust system such as the capitalist.

The influence of the economist Keynes

It has been supported especially by the theories of the British economist Keynes who promoted state intervention to solve economic problems.

A controversial and criticized proposal

Keynes's economic proposal has garnered numerous criticisms since its appearance and to this day. consider that the problem is partially solved and worsens when state spending leads to a economy that fully uses the resources you have, and you even spend more than you have in the box.

Inevitably this state of affairs will lead to a serious inflationary situation, in which the If the state does not change course, the state will be forced to issue more currency to meet expenses. stipulated.

Now, the fault is not with Keynes since he had proposed that once the Balance aid should be restricted and interest rates raised, but of course, very few political leaders wanted and want to bear the political cost of a measure of this type, reducing public spending and therefore subsidies, because obviously it is an unpopular measure and much more in campaign times electoral.

The 1929 crisis was a major blow to the capitalism since it caused that a very important part of the western society fell into misery.

Given these circumstances, the development of a State capable of containing misery, poverty and hunger was a phenomenon of great importance and great need.

For the Welfare State there are three elements that are relevant: democracy, that is, the maintenance of non-authoritarian or autocratic political forms; social welfare, that is, the provision to society of the economic and social support necessary for progress; capitalism, since for the Welfare State capitalism is not necessarily a problem, but it often supposes the coexistence with the same.

According to the defenders of the Welfare State, a greater state intervention in the economy is one of the most important guidelines since if the market is who regulates socio-economic relations there will always be disadvantaged sectors and the growing wealth of a few can lead to a great imbalance resulting in profound crisis.

Thus, the Welfare State regulates issues such as employment, production, access to housing, education and public health, etc.

Due to the significant budgetary expenses that a State of this type can mean for a nation, today this form politics it has been somewhat discredited and systems that combine access to the public with significant private intervention are often preferred.