Project Information

This project encompasses two major elements. In a first step, it analyses the development of international and national research on social and welfare attitudes (including their explanations and potential consequences), and provides – based on analyses of existing data – new perspectives and findings for Austria. In a second step, an Austrian Welfare State Survey will be developed, which will then be implemented with a follow-up project.

Unlike for many other countries, for Austria so far only minor research results are available about the general public’s attitudes towards the welfare state and its social policy. This research project aims at reducing this deficit in multiple ways:

1. In a first step, this project will investigate and analyze relevant questions in regards to social and welfare attitudes in Austria using existing data, and will analyse the Austrian case on the background of international state of the art research. The results will provide – based on the comparison of existing data – new perspectives and findings for the Austrian case.
2. In a second step, a specific Austrian Welfare State Survey will be developed. This survey will – on the one hand integrate international standards of similar surveys and on the other hand take into consideration national characteristics, problem areas and interests.
3. In addition, the project aims at establishing a strategic network of institutions in order to secure the funding and implementation of the Austrian Welfare State Survey, which is planned to be implemented as a follow-up project.