Redistribution as Governmental Regulation Instrument: A Comparison of Germany and Switzerland

Abstract

Although prosperity and a fair distribution of life chances belong to the constitutional socio-political aims in modern societies, we can observe that considerable distributional differences of material and immaterial resources still exist. To prevent or reduce social inequality the state can firstly try to establish equal conditions, and/or secondly equal achievements. How well the implementation of these goals can succeed depends strongly on the welfare arrangements. This will be the object of our comparative study of Germany and Switzerland. It will reveal that both countries are very similar with respect to income inequality, but the ways of reaching it are very different.