This book situates culture as a determining factor in the development of diverse welfare states
exploring the impact of traditional familialism on South Korean and Taiwanese programs. This
approach provides an important alternative to studies that focus on formal variables- such as
industrialization state intervention and resource mobilization- that do not explain the key
differences between the similar programs. Throughout this book Wang looks into both the
historical development and the present situation of medical welfare programs in South Korea and
Taiwan and she highlights the importance of families in these programs' development. As East
Asian societies continue to age while experiencing fewer births the search for the most
suitable sustainable and desirable welfare model in each country will become ever more
pressing. Academics and practitioners alike will find this refreshing approach to analysis
ideal for building welfare institutions that reflect societal values in addition to economic
conditions.
