In this era of austerity, while there are significant fiscal pressures on social protection programs particularly on cash benefits, there is increasing rhetoric concerning the 'social investment turn.' Yet, some scholars question whether social investment policies are actually expanding. The evidence is not sufficiently apparent, and others question whether social protection policies have actually crowded out social investment policies. So far, few systematic studies have examined this issue. This research aims to explore the effect of traditional social protection on social investment policies in 18 OECD countries from 1980 to 2010. To investigate the predictive and causal relationships between the two types of policies, we will use the Granger panel analysis. Then, we will adopt the Beck & Katz panel model to analyze the crowding-out effect that social protection policies have on social investment. We argue that social protection has not crowded out social investment policies in general but, rather, that the positive link between them is increasingly weaker in recent years. In the end, we discuss the theoretical and policy implications of our findings.

Objectives: This study examined how deprivation differed by region and the effect those differences had on suicidal ideation among the local population.Methods: Data collected over 10 years (2012-2021) in the Korea Welfare Panel Study were organized into 3 categories: metropolitan, city, and rural. A panel analysis was conducted on the impact of deprivation indices, socio-demographic characteristics, and life satisfaction on suicidal ideation in each category.Results: Income, divorce status, family relationship satisfaction, and medical deprivation had a significant impact on suicidal ideation in metropolitan areas, whereas these variables did not have significant effects in rural areas. In other words, income, family, and medical support were more impactful in city areas.Conclusions: Although the deprivation index was higher in rural areas than in city areas due to an aging population and reduced income levels, the mental health of rural residents was found to be generally better than that of city residents. The possibility that this is related to the strength of relationships within the respective communities should be considered in light of recent discussions on relational welfare.

This study analyzes how the three pillars of sustainable development (economic growth, social justice, and environmental protection) have influenced each other for the past twenty-six years (from 1987 to 2013). The relationship between the triangular pillar of SD can be characterized by “ecological modernization”, “eco-socialism”, and the traditional debate between growth and distribution. This paper examined the correlation analysis of the nine representative variables in the three categories, adopting the cases of twenty-six OECD countries. In particular, the panel analysis (PCSE models) was conducted to identify the seven independent determinants affecting both response (dependent) variables and environmental factors (“CO2 emissions” and “renewable electricity output”). In short, during the entire period, the findings reveal that all economic and social variables did not have a positive impact on reducing CO2 emissions. However, the variables of “employment in industry” and “social expenditure” are effected by the increase of renewable electricity output. Consequently, highlighting the detailed findings different for each set period (1987–2013, 1987–2002, and 2003–2013), this study suggests the implications of the analysis result in the light of the theories of ecological modernization and eco-socialism.

This study aims to examine the characteristics of long-term care (LTC) financing in Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) countries. To this end, the 26 OECD countries that have introduced LTC systems were classified into three types of models: tax-based, health insurance, and LTC insurance (LTCI) systems. Thereafter, these systems were analyzed using Gilbert and Terrell’s policy analysis framework. The results indicated differences in the characteristics of each type of financing in terms of allocation, benefit provision, service delivery, and finance. It is likely that while the LTC insurance model was mainly based on universalism and showed the highest level of coverage, the tax-based and health insurance models adopted selectivism with lower level of benefits per capita. In terms of service delivery, local authorities tended to have the responsibility to decide LTC service users and provide services in many countries, regardless of the type of model. In terms of finance, LTC insurance-based countries had the highest LTC expenditure as a percentage of GDP, followed by countries with tax-based and health insurance systems.

This chapter aims to explore the role of education and social investment, with special attention on the effects of shadow education on social mobility in Korea. It analyses how family background and shadow education influence educational attainment and, subsequently, how educational attainment affects incomes, using data from the Korea Education and Employment Panel (KEEP). Since this 'broken social elevator' is not a problem faced only by Korea — most OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries have 'sticky ceilings' and 'sticky floors' — the chapter then discusses the direction social investment policies should take to reboot social mobility. It argues that in order to minimise the effects of family background on educational attainment and labour market outcomes, social investment policies should actively play a redistributive role.