The Global Diffusion of Work-Injury Insurance: The Role of Spatial Networks and Nation Building

Abstract

Work-injury law often marks the beginning of the modern welfare state and as we argue this type of insurance is particularly important to nation-state building: it placates myriad social groups needs and demands while binding them symbiotically with the state. We analyze any first laws and the first instance of social insurance as outcomes in 151 states (1880–2010). Our network diffusion and event history models reveal that spatial proximity and democratization are key predictors of first laws. However, nation-state formation and trade density are additional predictors of social insurance in particular. We conclude with implications of these findings for understanding nation-building within global networks.