Why pay for welfare? A sociological analysis of reasons for welfare solidarity

This article describes an empirical instrument that has been developed and applied for measuring people's reasons for paying for welfare. Various reasons have been deduced from sociological theories on solidarity. Four separate ones have been observed: perceived self-interest, moral obligation, affection and identification with others, and accepted authority. In a national survey among the Dutch adult population in 1995, respondents were asked to specify the extent to which the first three reasons for paying for social security apply to them. The main conclusions are that a large majority of the Dutch population is motivated to pay for welfare on several grounds at the same time. Self-interest plays the most important role, followed by moral obligations and then emotions. Older people, men and the best educated segment of the population are more strongly motivated to pay for welfare, and welfare use and income level only exert a small influence. The main patterns should be viewed against the background of the comprehensive nature of the Dutch welfare state, which personally benefits virtually the entire Dutch population.