從福利國家到競爭式國家？：全球化與福利國家的危機

全球化在近十年來已引起社會科學界廣泛討論，然而全球化對於福利國家的未來是挑戰或是轉機，迄今尚無定論。本文首先審視國際資本主義經濟體系近二十年以來的深層變化。作者以為，由於國際市場日益增強的競爭、金融資本自由流動的壓力、產業外移及政府稅收減少等因素，民族國家在國際貿易及金融市場之開放下，對社會政策的自主性已因而逐漸式微。為了爭取外資，各民族國家被迫採取若干必要之措施，諸如：鬆綁勞動與社會保障條件、降低公司營利所得稅率及提供基礎建設等。顯然地，二次戰後逐漸成形的福利國家正置身於兩難的困境：國家競爭力或社會福利？效率或平等？在簡介全球化之性質後，本文從五個面向探討全球化對於福利國家產生之衝擊。前四個面向作者稱之為全球化的經濟邏輯，主要是透過勞動市場、徵稅體系與金融市場三個途徑表現出來。就此一問題，作者認為全球化的政治邏輯扮演著重要角色。其次，本文分析了全球化如何導致低技術勞工的失業問題，及三種福利體制各自的回應策略。在全球化經濟底下，作者指出，無論個別策略為何，都必須以犧牲另一個目標為代價來達成其他目標。最後，在有關全球化與福利國家此一問題，作者建議三個未來值得繼續探討的題目，以擴深台灣社會學界對於此一問題的理解。

This paper addresses the question of whether globalization will be a challenge or turning point in terms of the future of the welfare state. Following a review of the profound shift that has occurred over the last 20 years in the economic foundation of international capitalism, the author suggests that national state autonomy over welfare policy has been deeply eroded by the openness of international 1rade and financial markets due to a) increasing international competitiveness, b) the free flow of capital across borders, c) the exodus of industries from developed countries, and d) decreases in public revenue. To attract foreign investment, many countries have felt pressure to relax laws regulating labor conditions, to spend public funds on infrastructural projects, and to reduce corporate taxes. A welfare state crisis is one consequence of these decisions-that is, states have had to decide between national competitiveness or social welfare, otherwise stated as choosing between efficiency and equality. Following a discussion of globalization's impact on the welfare state (e.g., the economic logic of globalization in terms of labor and financial markets and tax systems), the author analyzes how globalization contributes to reduced employment opportunities for semi- or unskilled workers, and the range of strategies that have been adopted by different welfare state regimes to address this issue. The argument is made that regardless of which strategy is adopted, several important tradeoffs have to be made. The paper concludes with a description of theoretical considerations for further investigations.