Structure of General Government Expenditure on Social Protection in the EU Member States

The subject of research are the main areas of social policy in relation to general government expenditure on social protection. The article aim to evaluate the volume and structure of general government expenditure on social protection, accentuating similarities and differences in EU member states. Research byl proveden for the period 2007-2016 using the method of cluster analysis and boxplot. In connection to the goal have been verified three research questions. RQ1: Are the largest differences in the volume of general government expenditure on social protection present between Nordic countries compared to Eastern European countries and Baltic states? RQ2: Does expenditure on old age account for the most significant share and on sickness and disability the second most significant share in the structure of general government expenditure on social protection? RQ3: Do the differences in the volume and structure of general government expenditure on social protection in EU member states depend on the character of welfare states and the type of social protection? The results confirmed the largest differences in the volume of general government expenditure on social protection between Nordic countries compared to Eastern European and Baltic states (RQ1). The most significant share in the structure of general government expenditure on social protection is represented by expenditure on old age and sickness and disability in the majority of EU countries (RQ2). Research question (RQ3) confirmed the largest differences in government expenditure on old age and survivors (two countries of the second cluster, compared to the countries of the fourth cluster) and in government expenditure on sickness and disability (countries of the third cluster, compared to the countries of the fourth cluster). Nevertheless, these differences between groups of expenditure on social protection failed to confirm for all EU member states representing the respective welfare state and social model. Differences between countries expenditure levels partly reflect diverse levels of wealth, but also diversity in social protection systems, welfare policy, demographic trends, unemployment rates and other social, institutional and economic factors.