Beneficiaries and Donors in the Welfare State. The Contradictory Opinions of Poles on the Wealthfare Functions of the State

Abstract

This article attempts to show the opinions of Poles on the role of the welfare state, as seen from the perspective of their contradictory expectations as regards its duties. To a large extent, these opinions rest on the belief in the omnipotence and complete accountability of the state, but at the same time, on the withdrawal of the individual's support for its welfare tasks. In this way, there emerges a gap between the donators of welfare and the beneficiaries. As a way of empirical illustration of the problems under analysis, the author uses data collected in the Polish General Social Survey and the European Social Survey.