Welfare Capitalism: Entrepreneurs' Conceptions and Motivations in Dealing with the Social Question, 1900-1930
Abstract
The social question emerged in the 19th century, and there were three basic ways to deal with it.The position of the working class could be improved either by the state or by the workers' movement and the unions, while the third possible actor was the entrepreneurial class itself. The principle whereby it took upon itself the obligation to look after the social security of its workers is described, particularly in American literature, as welfare capitalism, which was par-ticularly widespread in the United States of America.
Its heyday was the 1900-1930 period. This study presents a definition of this term and analyses the question of the motives and motivations behind the American entrepreneurs who started taking social care of their employees.
The article shows that these motives were very diverse. Although welfare capitalism is primarily understood to be a pragmatic concept, the philanthropic motives involved also had some weight.
It is pointed out that American welfare capitalism shared a number of features with the industrial paternalism that was widespread throughout Europe. Hence usage of the concept of welfare capitalism can also enhance research into the social policy of industrial works in the Czech lands.
The text also provides a lively discussion of the success or failure of welfare capitalism and of its duration.