History
Comparative Historical Analysis of Welfare State Development
Quick fact
Comparative historical analysis reveals that the timing of democratization and the strength of organized labor in the early 20th century are among the best predictors of a country's current welfare generosity—more so than its current GDP.
Why this is interesting
You've probably noticed that the Nordic countries offer generous childcare and free university, while the US has a patchwork of tax credits and private insurance. Why do welfare states differ so dramatically, even among wealthy democracies?