This paper analyses past developments and future challenges of welfare state systems in Japan and China, comparing the two countries history in constructing and adapting their welfare state systems. The paper uses the concept of welfare state systems to better reflect particularistic features of...

This study looks at the state of social development in developing countries, particularly in East Asia, applying a qualitative cum quantitative method, that is, a multiple case study analysis combined with social indicator analysis (hence applying method triangulation), with the aim to study the...

The pathway followed by the Korean welfare state is particularly interesting: some forms of welfare provision originated during the authoritarian period, but mostly aiming at obtaining political legitimation and public support. However, the situation began to change with the end of the military...

Telling the untold story of explosion, stagnation and continuation of welfare state system financing in Asia: an introduction / Christian Aspalter -- A pas de trois in social policy theory: understanding the financing of welfare state systems / Christian Aspalter -- Financing the welfare state...

This paper elaborates and tries to extend, here and there, a key vision from Kim Jinsoo (of Yonsei University) that social security systems are subject to an uphill battle in the coming decades around the world, which they are most likely -- if they abstain from responding quickly in appropriate...

Following the current Japan crisis with the multiple disasters of earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear disasters, it becomes clear that new policy solutions need to be found that enable larger risk pooling, covering of new risks and much larger risks, especially natural disasters or man-made...