Abstract
In this study, we investigate the cohort effects on welfare attitudes in South Korea. To do so, we partial out the aging effects from the cohort effects and use 22 survey questions on welfare issues to analyze the multi-dimensionality of welfare attitudes. We find clear generational cleavages in welfare attitudes, demonstrating that the “war/industrialization generation” has the most conservative views. The “democratization generation” and “information generation” are much more liberal than the “war/industrialization generation,” but the first two generations differ in their attitudes toward individual welfare programs.
The “democratization generation” tends to support the government intervention to reduce inequality and poverty, confirming the progressive disposition of this generation, or so-called the “386 effect.” In contrast, the “information generation” tends to support social services that benefit them such as programs for family, children, and education. Moreover, this generation shows ambivalent attitudes — while they want welfare to expand, they do not want taxes to increase. Our findings suggest that it is not an easy task to develop welfare states in South Korea.
The “democratization generation” tends to support the government intervention to reduce inequality and poverty, confirming the progressive disposition of this generation, or so-called the “386 effect.” In contrast, the “information generation” tends to support social services that benefit them such as programs for family, children, and education. Moreover, this generation shows ambivalent attitudes — while they want welfare to expand, they do not want taxes to increase. Our findings suggest that it is not an easy task to develop welfare states in South Korea.
| Translated title of the contribution | Cohorts and Welfare Attitudes in South Korea |
|---|---|
| Original language | Korean |
| Pages (from-to) | 109-142 |
| Number of pages | 34 |
| Journal | 한국정당학회보 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - Nov 2017 |