Intro welfare state

• Maatschappijleer
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4,5

Welfare state!?

Statement: Every citizen who receives social assistance benefits should be obliged to do community service in return for this government support.

Use the following sentence starters:

I (dis)agree with..., because...

I would like to add to... that...

I have a question about.../Could you explain...?

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The welfare state dilemma

Welfare state = government plays an active role in ensuring the welfare and well-being of its people

When should people be expected to solve their own problems and when should the government step in to help them?

Lesson objectives

Key concepts: welfare state; welfare triangle

You can use the welfare triangle to:

• compare the liberal (rightwing), social democratic (leftwing) and christian democratic view on the welfare state
• formulate your own opinion on the welfare state
  

What are your basic needs?

Who is responsible?

State

''CULTURE OF ENTITLEMENT''

• Social democratic view
• Underlying values: equality, availability for everyone
  
• Risk: expensive (high taxes), dependency, free-riding

Market

''CULTURE OF RESPONSIBILITY''

• Liberal view
• Underlying values: freedom, personal responsibility
• Risk: inequality and exclusion

Left versus right: the socio-economic divide

Left: EQUALITY AND SOLITARITY! (main ideals behind socialism)

• Active government (redistribution)
• High taxes --> equal opportunities provided by the state

Right: FREEDOM! (main ideals behind liberalism)

• Passive government (free market)
• Low taxes --> personal responsibility and freedom

Civil society

''CULTURE OF PARTICIPATION''

• Christian democratic view
• Underlying values: solidarity, caring for each other
  
• Risk: people without strong social networks risk being excluded

What are the arguments brought up by democrats and republicans in favor and against universal healthcare?

Portfolio assignment 1

Describe how you think the life of someone living in poverty in the Netherlands is different from someone who is not. Think about housing, work, health, free time/social contacts, education, government support, etc.

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Viewing question

What do people have to do in return for social assistance beneftis?

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Lesson objectives 

Key concepts: welfare state; welfare triangle; social assistance benefits; basic income

Lesson objectives: You can use the welfare triangle to:

• compare the liberal, social democratic and christian democratic view on the welfare state
• formulate your own opinion on the welfare state, social assistance benefits and the basic income

What would a world where everyone received a basic income look like?

Viewing questions

Which of the arguments in favor of a universal basic income do you find most convincing? Which ones convince you the least? 

Can you come up with any other arguments for or against the universal basic income?

A left-wing or right-wing idea?