福利制度在一般意义上可以认为是政府为使全体公民免遭经济生活风险而制定的规划及措施。较早的福利制度规定见于1601年英国的“伊丽莎白救贫法”,规定对凡有劳动能力,愿意工作但为经济环境所苦者,均实行社会救济。 比较系统的福利制度始建于十九世纪八十年代德国所建立的一系列社会保险制度,保障的范围扩展到疾病、生育、工业 In the general sense, the welfare system can be considered as the government’s plans and measures designed to protect all citizens from the risks of economic life. The earlier welfare system regulations were found in the British Elderly Relief Act of 1601, which provides for social relief to all those who have the ability to work and who are willing to work but suffer the worst economic conditions. The more systematic system of benefits was established in Germany in the 1880s by a series of social insurance schemes that extended the scope of protection to diseases, maternity and industrial