Exploring changes in welfare attitude in the era of COVID-19 pandemic: U sing the l atent transition analysis

Abstract

This study aims to confirm the changing in the welfare attitude of generations in the COVID-19 pandemic era. This study set 8 factors as explanatory variables based on the tri-component attitude model and multi-attribute models and then estimated latent classes by generation. Data from the ‘National Survey of Tax and Benefits’in 2019 and 2020 were used in this study. The latent classes derived were (1)double-attitude, (2)welfare expansion-opposing, (3)welfare-actively supporting, (4)public welfare expansion-supporting, and (5)public welfare expansion-actively supporting. A new type of double-attitude problem was identified in the latent class. It was found that there was a clue to firmly maintain a welfare-actively supporting latent class. It was also found that there was a driving force to support the welfare state in the baby boomers, Generation X, and Generation MZ. However, the welfare attitude toward the welfare state has somewhat retreated in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests the need for reconsideration of welfare expansion.