Crisis as Catalyst: An Inter‐Event Analysis of Social Policy Reforms in East Asia

ABSTRACT This paper explores the role of crises as critical catalysts for social policy reform, with a particular focus on social welfare programs, which act as essential safeguards during periods of turmoil. Employing a historical institutionalism framework and an inter‐event qualitative case study approach, this study investigates three major crises: the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the COVID‐19 pandemic. Through a historical lens, the study identifies a general trajectory of social policy reform in East Asian countries, moving from the novel establishment or replacement of systems, to conversion, and ultimately to layering. From a functionalist perspective, social welfare programs are reformed in response to emerging risks, highlighting the dynamic interplay between crisis‐driven pressures and institutional adaptability. The paper also underscores the diversity of policy responses across countries. As an early‐bird, Japan's reforms mainly follow policy layering, while other latecomers focus on policy establishment and conversion. Over time, as social policy and welfare systems have become more comprehensive, countries have increasingly moved toward policy layering, focusing on incremental adjustments to ensure institutional stability and adaptability.