Causal mechanisms in the analysis of transnational social policy dynamics: Evidence from the global south

Kuhlmann, Johanna; Brink, Tobias ten

doi:10.1111/spol.12725

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…To unveil the causal mechanism that underlies the diffusion of SHI in CEE (see Kuhlmann & ten Brink, 2021, for a discussion of causal‐mechanisms‐based analysis in social policy research), we apply the multiple‐streams framework (Kingdon, 1984). The focal point of the framework is agenda setting, with the goal of explaining “why one policy idea triumphs over others at a certain point in time” (Béland, 2016b, p. 232), which is exactly the aim of this contribution.…”

Section: Analytical Framework and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the healthcare financing paradigm: Domestic actors and international organizations in the agenda setting for diffusion of social health insurance in post‐communist Central and Eastern Europe

et al. 2021

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This study elucidates the role of international organizations and domestic actors in post‐communist healthcare reforms aiming at a paradigmatic shift in healthcare financing and the introduction of social health insurance in Albania, Latvia and Poland. It inductively derives a causal mechanism behind the reform processes from these case studies. We demonstrate that the agenda setting for changing the healthcare financing paradigm was domestically driven and underpinned by the “nothing like the old regime” causal mechanism. In the context of post‐communist transition in Central and Eastern Europe this mechanism translated into an “anti‐communist backlash”. The backlash defined the domestic actors' perception of social health insurance as the only acceptable policy option because of its dissimilarity to the previous healthcare financing paradigm, and led to the rejection of World Bank suggestions to retain tax‐based healthcare financing in Poland and Albania. Doctors as policy entrepreneurs played the key role in agenda setting. Pre‐communist experience with social health insurance schemes and transnational cooperation with German and French experts and doctors served as sources of internal and external validation for the new paradigm.

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Section: Analytical Framework and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the healthcare financing paradigm: Domestic actors and international organizations in the agenda setting for diffusion of social health insurance in post‐communist Central and Eastern Europe

et al. 2021

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“…In addition, this study divides the policy process into the three sequential phases of perception and translation of policy, policy formulation, and institutionalization of policy (cf. Kuhlmann & ten Brink, 2021, p. 1016). During the first stage, knowledge of policies from abroad is acquired and translated into domestic policies by advocacy coalitions.…”

Section: Japan's Influence On the Policy Process Of Korea's Ltcimentioning

confidence: 99%

Building a welfare system through bounded learning: A case of Korean long‐term care insurance

Yun,

Kim

2023

Asian Politics and Policy

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This article verifies three conditions in its aim to confirm the influence of Japan's experience on the introduction timing and policy model of South Korean long-term care insurance (LTCI). First, the LTCI systems in Korea and Japan agree in terms of their core principles. Both are based on a separate social insurance system and ensure financial sustainability at the expense of service quality in response to the need to elevate expenditure. Second, the policymaking process reveals the reference relationship between the two systems. The advocacy coalition for LTCI suggested introducing an LTCI based on Japan's experience. However, their rationale was constrained due to the bounded rationality of policy learning. Finally, this article demonstrates that the rival arguments cannot completely explain the introduction of the Korean LTCI without considering the bounded learning argument. Consequently, the results of this study indicate that policy learning is critical to welfare development in latecomer welfare states.

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“…A key conceptual advantage of mechanism‐based analyses is that larger processes can be disaggregated into smaller sequences (see also Kuhlmann & ten Brink, 2021). These sequences can then be analysed in greater detail by identifying the key ‘entities’ and ‘activities’ of the mechanisms that are at play in these sequences (Machamer, Darden, & Craver, 2000), and can be compared to other sequences as well.…”

Section: Causal Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While some authors use established approaches to analyse social policy in the Global South, other authors take a more sceptical stance, arguing that alternative approaches need to be developed to capture social policy dynamics in these regions. Within this so‐far unresolved debate, a mechanism‐based approach provides a promising way forward (Beach & Pedersen, 2019; Goertz & Mahoney, 2012; Hedström & Ylikoski, 2010; Kuhlmann & ten Brink, 2021). A mechanism‐based approach allows to focus on specific sequences within broader processes, and to draw inspiration from elements of different theoretical approaches instead of having to rely on one single approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mechanism‐based approach to the comparison of national pension systems in Vietnam and Sri Lanka

Kuhlmann

Nullmeier

2021

Soc Policy Adm

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The article argues that a mechanism‐based approach is a promising way for comparative analyses of social policy developments, as it allows to focus on specific sequences within broader processes, and to draw inspiration from elements of different theoretical approaches to explain these sequences. The article analyses the developments of the social insurance pension system in Vietnam and the national provident fund in Sri Lanka, which present two variants of a contribution‐based pension system. Despite different starting points and institutional and economic backgrounds, the article reveals that both countries are characterised by maintenance and expansion of their pension systems on the policy level, and limitations in expanding effective coverage on the implementation level. We identify three causal mechanisms that are crucial for understanding these developments: The policy‐areas‐interdependence mechanism explains how, in an integrated political system, policies are being maintained despite dysfunctions, because they have important stabilizing functions for other policy areas. The evasion mechanism explains how national policy actors on the surface follow International Organisations' recommendations and support further cooperation, while conducting reforms in line with national political considerations. The limited‐compliance mechanism explains how reforms that are being adopted on the policy level are not being implemented.

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Causal mechanisms in the analysis of transnational social policy dynamics: Evidence from the global south

Cited by 7 publications

References 69 publications

Changing the healthcare financing paradigm: Domestic actors and international organizations in the agenda setting for diffusion of social health insurance in post‐communist Central and Eastern Europe

Changing the healthcare financing paradigm: Domestic actors and international organizations in the agenda setting for diffusion of social health insurance in post‐communist Central and Eastern Europe

Building a welfare system through bounded learning: A case of Korean long‐term care insurance

A mechanism‐based approach to the comparison of national pension systems in Vietnam and Sri Lanka

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