Local Welfare Regimes: A Comparative Analysis

Institutional design of local government systems, as well as community socioeconomic, political, or cultural traits, could promote variations and innovation in the contents and delivery process of welfare services. Thus, besides national differences, variations of local welfare systems are central to understand community quality of life and its change. This implies the necessary consideration of sub-national (regional and local) levels, as well as the mix of key actors that participate in governance process and welfare provision processes at the local level. Specifically, differences in the institutional design for local governments and intergovernmental relations in each country, main socio-economic traits of local communities, as well as socio-political factors linked to local government and civil society, could promote variations in governance, provision, and impacts of welfare services between municipalities.

This session welcomes papers that explore variations on community welfare systems and their effects. Preference will be given to comparative studies that analyse: (1) the impact of institutional and community traits on local variations of welfare provision and governance, (2) their effects in terms of quality of life and social cohesion in communities.