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-Andersen,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

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

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)

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. Aiginger’s 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. Aiginger’s 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.