Comparative study on the evolution of elderly attitudes towards government welfare responsibilities in East Asian welfare regimes

This study employs quantitative analysis of ISSP Role of Government modules to examine the elderly attitudes towards government welfare responsibilities in Japan, South Korea, and the Taiwan region of China. Findings reveal significant shifts over decades. In 2006, seniors in South Korea and the Taiwan region of China reported the highest scores, and the Taiwan region of China continued to lead in both 2006 and 2016. Across the survey waves, Japan experienced the most pronounced attitudinal fluctuations, South Korea showed moderate variability, and the Taiwan region of China demonstrated remarkable stability. Further analysis indicates that these differential patterns within the same welfare regime are shaped by temporal, national/regional, and individual-level factors. This comparative study illustrates that the East Asian welfare regime exhibits significant internal diversity alongside common traits. By documenting divergent attitudinal trajectories (e.g. Taiwan’s stability vs. Japan’s fluctuations) and linking them to distinct national institutional pathways, this research challenges the static and homogeneous conception of the ‘East Asian welfare model’. It contributes to the theorizing intra-regime variation and offers a foundation for crafting context-sensitive welfare policies.