The Welfare axis: Shared vs Self-reliant
This axis asks who should carry the risks of life, like illness, job loss and old age. Should we share them through taxes, or should people rely on themselves, family and charity?
13 statements in the test score this axis. Agreeing with some moves you toward Shared, with others toward Self-reliant.
What the Welfare axis measures
Welfare is about money moving between people. It covers taxes on high incomes, pensions, healthcare, free education, benefits and basic income. The question is how much the state should redistribute and how wide the safety net should be.
It is not about who owns the hospitals or schools. It is about who pays and who is covered. Scores run from -100 (fully Shared) to +100 (fully Self-reliant).
Sample statements
These are real statements from the test. Each one is keyed to this axis, in one direction or the other.
“People with very high incomes should pay a much larger share of their income in taxes.”
“Healthcare should be provided to everyone by the government and paid for through taxes.”
“Welfare benefits should be limited so that people have a strong reason to find work.”
“Large differences in wealth are acceptable if they come from fair competition.”
What the Shared end means
People at the Shared end think that luck plays a big part in how a life turns out. Where you are born, your health and the job market are not fully in your control. A shared safety net gives everyone a fair floor to stand on.
They also argue that sharing costs through taxes is more reliable than charity. When many people pay in, support is there for anyone who needs it. The Nordic model of high taxes and broad public services is a popular example for this view.
- They tend to want higher earners and big estates to carry a larger part of the tax bill.
- They often see healthcare and study as services that should not depend on personal wealth.
- They usually believe a guaranteed minimum income or job makes society more stable and fair.
- They often point to luck and family background as reasons why support should be shared.
Who sits at the Shared end
- Peter Kropotkin-95
- Che Guevara-85
- Friedrich Engels-85
- Huey Long-85
- Karl Marx-85
- Rosa Luxemburg-85
What the Self-reliant end means
People at the Self-reliant end believe that people do best when they take charge of their own lives. They think high taxes and generous benefits can weaken the reason to work and save. They would rather keep more of what they earn and decide for themselves how to use it.
They also trust families, neighborhoods, faith groups and charities to help those in need. This help is personal and local, so it can fit the person better than a government form. They accept that incomes will be unequal if the process is fair.
- They tend to want lower taxes so people keep more of what they earn.
- They often believe that generous benefits can dull the drive to find work.
- They usually expect individuals to build their own savings for later life.
- They often see unequal outcomes as acceptable when the contest was fair.
Who sits at the Self-reliant end
- Murray Rothbard+100
- Ayn Rand+95
- Robert Nozick+90
- Ron Paul+90
- Ludwig von Mises+80
- Barry Goldwater+75
Scores near the middle
A score near zero often means you back a safety net but want limits on it. You might support help for people who cannot work, but want rules that reward effort. You might also like a mix of public and private support, such as a state pension with personal savings on top. Most countries use some version of this blend.
Common mix-ups
Shared means you want everyone to earn the same. No. Most Shared-leaning people accept different incomes. They want a safety net and fair chances, not equal pay for all.
Self-reliant means you do not care about the poor. No. Many Self-reliant supporters give to charity and help family. They simply think private and local help works better than state programs.
Welfare only means benefits for people out of work. In this test it is wider. It also covers pensions, healthcare, education and the tax system that pays for them.
How it relates to other axes
Ownership: Welfare is about who pays and who gets support. Ownership is about who runs the service. A country can fund healthcare with taxes and still use private clinics, or the other way round.
Markets: Welfare covers taxes and the safety net. Markets covers rules on prices, pay and competition. Some people want a free market with a strong safety net, a mix that many modern economies use.
FAQ
Is a Shared score the same as being left-wing?
It usually points that way on economic questions. But the word left-wing covers many things, and this axis only measures redistribution and the safety net.
Is the welfare state a new idea?
No. In the 1880s Otto von Bismarck set up social insurance in Germany for workers. Since then, countries have built many different models of public support.
Can I be Shared on welfare but Free on markets?
Yes. You may want few rules on business but still believe taxes should fund a strong safety net. The test scores these separately for that reason.
Does Self-reliant mean no public services at all?
Not usually. Most people at this end still accept some basics, such as courts, roads and defense. They want the state's role in redistribution to be smaller.
Where do you sit on Welfare?
Take the test