Welfare Regime Divergence and Varieties of Capitalism: Perceptions of Class Consciousness and Decommodification

This study integrates welfare regime typology, class perceptions, and the Varieties of Capitalism to expand the theory of welfare regime divergence in advanced economies. It emphasizes the role of subjective class consciousness in shaping policy preferences toward decommodification. The research posits that differences in decommodification levels arise from varying policy preferences of subjective classes in diverse socioeconomic contexts. By examining 22 advanced OECD economies, the study tests its arguments through two investigations. First, a macro-level analysis using clustering algorithms categorizes these countries based on their commodification and decommodification traits in the 2010s. Second, an individual-level analysis explores how subjective class perceptions influence preferences for decommodification policies across different welfare regime types. Results reveal two optimal clusters among the 22 economies, with decommodification features playing a significant role. The study highlights the enduring importance of decommodification and the impact of subjective class perceptions on welfare regimes in advanced democracies.本研究整合福利制度类型学（welfare regime typology）、阶级认知与资本主义多样性（Varieties of Capitalism）理论，以拓展发达经济体的福利制度分化理论。本研究强调主观阶级意识在塑造去商品化（decommodification）政策偏好中的核心作用，并提出：去商品化水平的差异源于不同社会经济背景下主观阶级各异的政策偏好。本研究通过对22个经济合作与发展组织（OECD）发达经济体的考察，采用两项实证检验验证其核心论点：其一，宏观层面分析采用聚类算法（clustering algorithms），基于2010年代各国的商品化（commodification）与去商品化特征对其进行分类；其二，个体层面分析探讨在不同福利制度类型下，主观阶级认知如何影响个体对去商品化政策的偏好。研究结果显示，22个经济体中存在两个最优聚类簇，且去商品化特征发挥了显著作用。本研究着重阐明了去商品化的持久重要性，以及主观阶级认知对发达民主国家福利制度的影响。