43 country case studies on the performance of politics, economy and society

In case studies 43 important countries, including all EU members, the most developed OECD countries and all BRICS countries, are examined with respect to their prosperity and welfare. Under welfare I understand, considering the social-philosophical discussion, the performance with regard to the following eight values or goals: prosperity; ecological sustainability; innovation; social security by providing support in case of risk and precautionary through investments in education; equality of participation; appreciation of peculiarities (women-friendliness and migrant-friendliness); social integration; autonomy („freedom of choice and capabilities“). - The change of prosperity and welfare is considered in the context of the world financial crisis and the subsequent great recession. In case studies on the 43 countries an attempt is made to partially explain the change in performance with regard to the societally desirable goals by the logics of the institutions and the policies implemented. In my approach, I do not assume a single path of modernization in the direction of growth, participation and inclusion, but differentiate, in extension of the „three worlds of welfare capitalism“ by Esping-Andersen (1990), for the 43 countries considered at least the following six institutional development paths of modernization: The social democratic (universalist) path, the economically liberal path , the status-conserving path, the „ familistic“ path, the development of the group of post-socialist countries, that are in a process of differentiation, and the productivist path of economic rise in East Asia. As institutions are analysed: Political regime, economy, gender roles, social security systems (pension, health, labour market, family) and education.