Varieties of capitalism and approaches to lifelong learning

1
Varieties of capitalism and approaches to
lifelong learning Contribution to symposium on
Lifelong Learning and Social Justice macro,
micro and meso perspectives British
Educational Research Association Conference,
London Institute of Education, 6-8 September
2007 Sheila Riddell, Elisabet Weedon, Judith
Litjens, Jim Crowther, University of
Edinburgh John Holford, University of Nottingham
2
Three worlds of welfare capitalism(Esping-Anderse
n,1989)

• the liberal welfare state - limited social
  insurance plan and means tested benefits.
  Beneficiaries usually low-income working-class
  (e.g. United States and United Kingdom)
• the conservative-corporatist regime - aims to
  retain existing social hierarchies. Strong
  emphasis on social insurance (e.g. Belgium,
  Austria) and
• the social-democratic regime - aims to promote
  equality and provide universal benefits. Has a
  universal insurance scheme but uses some
  means-testing in provision of benefits (e.g.
  Norway).

3
Welfare families (Castles)

• English-speaking family (Ireland, UK)
• Nordic family
• Continental Western European group (France,
  Germany, Italy, Netherlands)
• Southern European group (Greece, Portugal, Spain)

4
Variants on new European socioeconomic model
(Aiginger)

• Scandinavian
• Continental
• Anglo-Saxon
• Mediterranean
• Catching-up

5
Methods of typology development

• Data gathered on range of indicators e.g.
• GDP spent on education
• Employment rate
• Employment protection, poverty risk, measures to
  support disadvantaged
• Ed. System characteristics outcome
• Participation in lll
• Policies on lll

6
Table 1 Data contributing to typology of lll
7
Data sources (see glossary)

• Eurostat
• Euridyce
• EU communications
• National Reports

8
Difficulties in typology development

• General problems with welfare state typologies
  (welfare states nation states)
• Basis for inclusion in particular category
• Including new member states
• Consistency and reliability of data

9
Country similarities differences broad
economic social indicators

• Marked divide in GDP between old new member
  states
• Less variation in GDP spent on education but
  richest country (Norway) spends highest )
• Highest employment rates Norway, Scotland
• UK Ireland have least regulated labour markets
• Slovenia Norway have adequate measures for
  disadvantaged
• Risk of poverty greatest in Ireland UK least
  in Norway Slovenia

10
(No Transcript)
11
Percentage with at least secondary ed key points

• Most systems comprehensive exceptions Austria
  Flanders
• Countries grouped closely together but little
  variation between old new member states
• Flanders - lowest percentage
• Norway highest percentage

12
(No Transcript)
13
Percentage in formal lll key points

• UK - high proportion if formal lll, followed by
  Slovenia Ireland - flexible HE
• Austria - relatively low participation (behind
  Estonia Lithuania) - rigid HE system
• Lowest participation Bulgaria (also poorest
  country)

14
(No Transcript)
15
Lll by educational attainment key points

• In all countries, those with higher levels of
  educational attainment most likely to be involved
  in lll (formal, non-formal, informal)
• Austria appears to have highest participation,
  but LFS data for 2003 did not include informal
  learning for all countries

16
Aigingers typology applied to lll (1)

• Scandinavian model Norway - emphasis on human
  capital, social capital personal development.
  High investment in lll combined with regulated
  labour markets
• Anglo-Saxon model Ireland, Scotland, England
  High participation in lll, low labour market
  regulation, high poverty risk
• Lll seen as driver of economy means of
  combating social exclusion

17
Aigingers typology applied to lll (2)

• Continental model Rigid stratified education
  system. Emphasis on lll as creator of human
  capital, less on social capital Tightly regulated
  labour market, but little attention to
  disadvantaged
• Catching-up model Slovenia has many features in
  common with old member states, particularly
  emphasis on social inclusion.
• Estonia Lithuania some features of Baltic
  states?
• Hungary Czech Republic reflections of
  continental model?
• Need for much greater focus on developments in
  Central Eastern European countries.