Globalization, political regime type, and social spending in middle income countries, 1980-1999

Current debates suggest that economic globalization can either lead to a race to the bottom in which states lose their policy making autonomy or to a renewed commitment by the state to provide social benefits to its citizens. Comparative research on policy reform, however, suggests that political regime type is an important determinant of social policy. An analysis of education, health and social protection spending in a sample of 39 middle …