The welfare state, largely associated with the reformist social-democratic movement, is now reaching its limits in the form of uncontrolled public deficits and unsupportable levels of taxation. Similarly, the social mobility once fostered by the welfare state has suffered serious reverses.
大体上与改革派的社会民主运动联系在一起的福利国家目前因无法控制的公共赤字和无以支撑的税收水平而难以为继。相似地，一度被福利国家扶持的社会流动发生严重逆转。相比承诺的经济增长的益处，全球化的市场被认为带来更多的不平等、紧缩和不安全。