In contrast to social welfare provisions found in other industrialized countries (especially countries with the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism), European welfare states provide universal services that benefit all citizens (social democratic welfare state) as opposed to a minimalist model that only caters to the needs of the poor.
Vastupidi teistes tööstusriikides (eriti kapitalismi anglosaksi mudelit rakendavates riikides) leiduvatele sotsiaalhoolekande tingimustele pakuvad Euroopa heaoluriigid universaalseid teenuseid, millest saavad kasu kõik kodanikud (sotsiaaldemokraatlik heaoluriik).