Attitudes Toward Government Responsibility and Spending on Public Pensions and Unemployment in a Cross- National Context Joellen Pederson
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Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2013 Attitudes Toward Government Responsibility and Spending on Public Pensions and Unemployment in a Cross- National Context Joellen Pederson Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY ATTITUDES TOWARD GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY AND SPENDING ON PUBLIC PENSIONS AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN A CROSS-NATIONAL CONTEXT By JOELLEN PEDERSON A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Sociology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Summer Semester, 2013 JoEllen G. Pederson defended this dissertation on March 28, 2013. The members of the supervisory committee were: Jill Quadagno Professor Directing Dissertation Jason Barabas University Representative Karin Brewster Committee Member Deana Rohlinger Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the dissertation has been approved in accordance with university requirements. ii To my family, who has always supported my decisions and encouraged my curiosity. Thank you. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Frankly, I think I could write another 100 pages on all the help I have received that has made my education and this dissertation possible. I will try to keep this brief, as I also realize no amount of writing can ever do justice to the gratitude I feel to the people in my life. First, I would like to thank Jill Quadagno for being my advisor from the day I walked into the FSU sociology department. I have always believed that having a good boss/mentor makes for a good work experience. I could not have imagined a better boss/mentor during my graduate school career. I would not have published anything on my own. Jill is the reason I have experienced any success as a researcher; I am grateful everyday that she has invested so much time and effort into my education. I would also like to thank the other faculty members who have worked with my while at FSU. Karin Brewster welcomed me into her life and family with open arms. She has been my confidant and friend, and it has been a great ride. And, she taught me some really important things about statistics. Deana Rohlinger has helped me more than anyone else in understanding how to “frame” a paper. I have trusted her with making me a better qualitative researcher and a better writer. I would also like to thank Dan Tope and Jason Barabas for their continued help and generosity, and Jordan Esker for his grammatical edits to this document. The Florida State University sociology department has been good to me. I have never really seen myself as being “academic,” but this department has embraced my differences and let me use them as strengths. I have especially enjoyed working with my fellow graduate students and my undergraduate students. FSU students have a wonderful sense of humor and are passionate about so many things. I will always cherish the time I spent with them. My journey, however, did not start at FSU and I would like to mention a few other organizations and people whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude. Shirley Kauffman’s Future Farmers of America was the first time I felt like I could become a leader. Berea College and the Bonner Scholars taught me that people in this world need me more than I need myself. I am able to understand and embrace the ideas of equality, justice, and hope because of my experience in Berea and because Heather Shill is an amazing leader who does not get enough credit for her abilities. I know this because if she did, she would be president of the United States. I have been on several tennis teams, including the Berea College women’s tennis team. I have to thank my coaches and my fellow players. Some of the best moments of my life have been spent with my iv tennis family. These people have continually supported me both on and off the court. I also need to give the Congressional Hunger Center and Aileen Carr a special shout-out. The Congressional Hunger Center is a truly bi-partisan organization, which is remarkable. CHC gives me a lot of hope for the future. When I was a senior in high school, I met Patrick McGrady at Bonner preview weekend in Berea. He told me to take a sociology class when I couldn’t find a major, he told me I had to go to graduate school, he asked me to apply to FSU. He has been my faithful companion, friend, and roommate. He was there when I got my first speeding ticket (we were misusing Bonner foundation funds at the time), and I was there when he broke up with his first girlfriend to go out with his first boyfriend. We have literally and figuratively climbed mountains together. When we weren’t trying to get in trouble or save the world, we were studying together in libraries, coffee shops, office buildings, and homes all across the USA. Needless to say, it’s been one hell of an adventure, and I wouldn’t be here without him. Lastly, I especially need to thank my parents and my sister. I have failed far more often than I have succeeded, but my family’s love and dedication has always kept me moving forward. I have never been afraid to try because I know that no matter what happens they will be by my side cheering for me. Along the way, they taught me how to be humble, how to be grateful, how to be respectful, how to be civically engaged, and how to give back. I have the best family in the world, period. While they have always supported my traveling tendencies, even when I moved to Macedonia, I am so glad my next move puts me closer to them. I just hope they are ready to help me milk my jersey cow. Words will never even begin to describe the gratitude I feel. But, thank you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ix INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 Research Questions .................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 1: THEORIES EXPLAINING INDIVIUAL AND NATIONAL WELFARE STATE ATTITUDES & POLICY DESCRIPTIONS ...................................................................................9 Individual-Level Theories of Welfare State Attitudes ............................................................9 National-Level Theories of Welfare State Attitudes ............................................................16 Public Pension Characteristics by Country ...........................................................................21 Unemployment Benefit Characteristics by Country .............................................................30 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................36 CHAPTER 2: DATA & METHODS .............................................................................................39 Data ......................................................................................................................................39 Analytical Technique ............................................................................................................45 CHAPTER 3: EXPLANING VARIATION IN ATTITUDES TOWARD GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY ON PUBLIC PENSIONS AND UNEMPLOYMENT .................................49 Results of Analysis ................................................................................................................50 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................60 CHAPTER 4: EXPLAINING VARIATION IN ATTITUDES TOWARD GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON PUBLIC PENSIONS AND UNEMPLOYMENT ............................................62 Results of Analysis ................................................................................................................63 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................75 CHAPTER 5: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .............................................................................77 Findings on the Country-Level ..............................................................................................78 Findings on the Individual-Level ..........................................................................................79 Findings Related to Ethnicity ................................................................................................82 Limitations and Future Research ..........................................................................................83 Greater Impact and Political Implications ............................................................................85 APPENDICES ...............................................................................................................................86 A. IRB NOTICE OF EXEMPTION ...........................................................................................86 B. INTRA-CLASS CORRELATION TEST RESULTS ...........................................................88 vi C. CHI2 RESULTS FOR