| Social welfare policies are a common feature of all modern states providing the public with a variety of services related to health, education, shelter, and employment. These provisions come in the form of price regulations, subsidies, and government control of certain industries. Although unpopular with economists, government economic intervention and provision of social welfare is popular amongst the public (Brooks and Manza, 2007; Bean and Papadakis, 1998; Taylor-Gooby, 2001; Rockoff, 2004). The following analysis helps to explain high public support of these policies through analysis of three theories of policy preference formation: (1) self-interest; (2) institutionalism; and (3) instrumental rationality. Using large representative national survey data (N=13,294) from Australia, Bulgaria, Finland, The Netherlands, and Poland this thesis shows that equalitarian ideology is a major influence on policy preferences consistent with instrumental rationality theory. It further demonstrates the complexities of policy preferences based on findings that lend varying support to all three theories. It discusses the implications of these findings and paves avenues for further research in this area. |
