Showing papers in "Journal of European Social Policy in 2008"
TL;DR: In this paper, the most significant reforms recently introduced in six European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK) as regards long-term care are analyzed at macro- (institutional and quantitative), meso- (service delivery structures) and micro-level (families, caregivers and people in need).
Abstract: Summary Faced with the problems associated with an ageing society, many European countries have adopted innovative policies to achieve a better balance between the need to expand social care and the imperative to curb public spending. Although embedded within peculiar national traditions, these new policies share some characteristics: (a) a tendency to combine monetary transfers to families with the provision of in-kind services; (b) the establishment of a new social care market based on competition; (c) the empowerment of users through their increased purchasing power; and (d) the introduction of funding measures intended to foster care-giving through family networks. This article presents the most significant reforms recently introduced in six European countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK) as regards long-term care. It analyses their impact at the macro- (institutional and quantitative), meso- (service delivery structures) and micro-level (families, caregivers and people in need). As a result the authors find a general trend towards convergence in social care among the countries, and the emergence of a new type of government regulation designed to restructure rather than to reduce welfare programmes.
402 citations
TL;DR: This article explored how parents in couple families reconcile employment and child-care, and how far the current emphasis of EU-level policy on enhancing the formal provision of child care fits with patterns and/or preferences in Western European member states.
Abstract: Summary This article explores how parents in couple families reconcile employment and child-care, and how far the current emphasis of EU-level policy on enhancing the formal provision of child-care fits with patterns and/or preferences in Western European member states. We use European Social Survey data from 2004–05 on working patterns and preferences, and on child-care use and preferences regarding the amount of formal provision. We find that working hours remain a very important dimension of work/family reconciliation practices, with large differences in both patterns and preferences. There is very little evidence of convergence towards a dual, full-time worker model family outside the Nordic countries, although the balance between the hours which men and women spend in paid work is becoming less unequal. The part that kin (partners and grandparents) play in providing child-care remains important in all but three countries, and, for the most part, mothers report that they are content with the amount of formal child-care available. We suggest that work/family reconciliation measures need to encompass a more extended policy package, the components of which are likely to be specific to member states.
297 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared childcare provisions in the new member countries of the EU and showed the existence of cross-country variation of childcare policies within the region of Cental and Eastern Europe.
Abstract: Summary This article compares childcare provisions in the new member countries of the EU. It takes into account two pillars of childcare policy: publicly provided childcare services and parental leave provisions. In the analysis, the fuzzy set ideal types approach is utilized. In contrast to the studies conducted so far, this article stops treating the region of Cental and Eastern Europe as a monolith and demonstrates the existence of cross-country variation of childcare policies within the region. Furthermore, the difference is systematized by identifying four clusters of childcare policy. These are: explicit familialism, implicit familialism, female mobilizing and comprehensive support types. The countries are clustered as follows: the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia in the explicit familism policy model; Estonia and Latvia in the female mobilizing type policy; Lithuania and Hungary pursuing the childcare policies typical of the comprehensive support model; and finally the childcare policy in Poland resembles characteristics of the implicit familism model.
223 citations
TL;DR: The discussion on the existence and nature of the welfare regimes of Western democracies has been ongoing for more than 15 years, and many significant contributions have been made as discussed by the authors. But the main contribution has been made by the authors of this paper.
Abstract: The discussion on the existence and nature of the welfare regimes of Western democracies has been ongoing for more than 15 years, and many significant contributions have been made. The scholarly wo...
163 citations
TL;DR: In Esping-Andersen's influential work decommodification appears as the central characteristic of the welfare state, and efforts to decommodify labour are posited to be the main goal of social democ...
Abstract: In Esping-Andersen's influential work decommodification appears as the central characteristic of the welfare state, and efforts to decommodify labour are posited to be the main goal of social democ...
143 citations
TL;DR: In the first part of the gender revolution, women have entered the public spheres of education, employment and politics as discussed by the authors, and the next step is the process by which men enter the private sphere and share...
Abstract: In the first part of the gender revolution, women have entered the public spheres of education, employment and politics. The next step is the process by which men enter the private sphere and share...
110 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the link between poverty and social integration in countries characterized by different economic, cultural and welfare state regimes and determined whether being materially disadvantaged increases the likelihood of social disintegration or whether poor people can count on receiving more support (compensation).
Abstract: Cultures of support vary across enlarged Europe. This article examines the link between poverty and social integration in countries characterized by different economic, cultural and welfare state regimes. Its object is to determine whether being materially disadvantaged increases the likelihood of social disintegration (accumulation) or whether poor people can count on receiving more support (compensation). In addition it will examine the conditions under which material and social disadvantages accumulate. The empirical analysis thus combines a micro- with a macro-sociological perspective and focuses particular attention on the context in which people are poor. Although poverty is closely connected to social disintegration, the degree of accumulation varies from one country to the next. Of decisive importance is household composition, which is strongly related to country-specific social policy design. Contextual factors such as the prevalence of poverty also play a role, as do general attitudes to religio...
107 citations
TL;DR: The authors argued that the Hartz Commission was largely insignificant in Policy formulation instead learning prior to the Commission located in an expert forum by the Bertelsmann Foundation as well as a Ministry of Labour project group explains the direction and content of this reform.
Abstract: The 'Hartz legislation' of 2003/04, which restructured the benefit and administrative system for the long-term unemployed in Germany, is commonly ascribed to the recommendations made by the Hartz Commission and the political leadership of Chancellor Schroder. These aspects have been crucial politically in policy making, but are insufficient to fully explain this legislation. Here it is argued that the Hartz Commission was largely insignificant in Policy formulation instead learning prior to the Commission located in an expert forum by the Bertelsmann Foundation as well as a Ministry of Labour project group explains the direction and content of this reform. The case of the Hartz legislation, whereby the 'frozen welfare state' of Germany critically departed from its conservative path, provides strong support for the significance of learning in major social policy reforms.
101 citations
TL;DR: The linkages between these two issues, climate change and its policy corollaries, and the traditional domain of social policies seem to us so strong and salient that they should be aired in a social policy journal as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Climate change is surely one of the most encompassing and egregious threats in Europe today, so it is appropriate that we consider its implications for social policy in Europe. It is true that climate change is a separate agenda, the preserve of a distinct academic and epistemic community, scholarly discourse, policy community, institutional structures and modes of governance; but the linkages between these two issues – climate change and its policy corollaries, and the ‘traditional’ domain of social policies – seem to us so strong and salient that they should be aired in a social policy journal.
93 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors consider eight recent studies which include Belgium, a middle case as far as European gender equality is concerned, and evaluate the successes and challenges of the gender mainstreaming strategy ten years after its adoption.
Abstract: Summary Gender mainstreaming is one of the major strategies adopted by the European Union and member states for achieving gender equality. It is seen as a major success, and other social movements have begun to demand mainstreaming for their issues in European social policy. This article considers eight recent studies which include Belgium, a middle case as far as European gender equality is concerned. They show meagre results in terms of altering the understanding of equality policy to include a gender perspective, and applying efforts transversally. The article also evaluates the successes and challenges of the gender mainstreaming strategy ten years after its adoption. It then examines the changes in the organization of EU equality issues with regard to diversity and the implications for the gender mainstreaming strategy. These changes include efforts to address new target groups under Article 13 as well as the issues posed by enlargement. It thus addresses the question: To what extent can experience relating to gender mainstreaming be utilized to meet evolving demands? Recent developments in intersectional theory may offer fruitful new angles.
90 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the interaction between female and male employment, parenting responsibilities and family policy in Russia and Sweden was explored based on indicators of public s... and the study was based first on indicators based on public attitudes.
Abstract: In this article, we explore the interaction between female and male employment, parenting responsibilities and family policy in Russia and Sweden. The study is based first on indicators of public s ...
TL;DR: The challenges that created an EU policy arena where none had been are explained; the reasons that decisions taken now will be subject to the logic of path dependency; and the different models that are being put forward for the EU.
Abstract: Health services policy in the European Union is at a critical juncture: a moment at which decisions are highly contingent but, once taken, will shape politics and policy for the future. There is no established EU health services policy community or trajectory because EU health services politics have been a reaction to decisions by the European Court of Justice. Instead, there are a range of different models of health policy, each with different logics, lineages, policy tools and bureaucratic sponsors. The decisions taken in this fluid situation will shape future policy because of the importance and `stickiness' of the EU. Once the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has taken a decision or legislation has been passed, it is difficult to undo. This article explains the challenges that created an EU policy arena where none had been; the reasons that decisions taken now will be subject to the logic of path dependency; and the different models that are being put forward for the EU.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluate a policy change from universal to means-tested child allowances in terms of targeting efficiency and poverty reduction, taking the introduction of the latter form of benefits in Russia as a case-study.
Abstract: Summary This article evaluates a policy change from universal to means-tested child allowances in terms of targeting efficiency and poverty reduction, taking the introduction of the latter form of benefits in Russia as a case-study. We use the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) from 2000 to 2004 to analyse the impact of the reforms and to simulate the effects of various means-tested and universal child benefit schemes. Since the reforms in 2000, more children have received benefits and there has been improved targeting of low income households. Nevertheless, both inclusion and exclusion errors are considerable and although the poverty reduction impact has improved marginally since the reforms, its effect on child poverty has been small. Our simulations show that universal schemes achieve additional poverty reductions with regard to all indicators because previously excluded children now also receive a benefit. However, size matters most: only by increasing benefit levels considerably can more substantial poverty reductions be achieved.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the impact of the European Employment Strategy (EES) as a result of "pressure" and key actors' strategic use of the strategy, and showed how these mechanisms work.
Abstract: Summary In the mid-1990s, EU member states decided to coordinate their national employment policies through a common European Employment Strategy (EES). Building on a systematic comparative study of four member states, the author argues that the strategy has influenced the member states’ employment policies to varying degrees, but that the impact, generally speaking, has been limited. In the article, the author examines the impact of the strategy as a result of ‘pressure’ and key actors’ strategic use of the strategy, and shows how these mechanisms work. Factors that can explain why a greater impact is found in Poland and Spain than is found in Denmark and the United Kingdom include: noncompliance with the EES predating the introduction of the strategy; relatively weak labour market performance; the lack of consensus among the main actors in the labour market; Europeanization; and strong economic or political dependence on the EU. Further, the author argues that the EES revisions in 2003 and 2005 have not increased the degree of impact, which instead seems to be diminishing.
TL;DR: In particular, the recent increase in fertility rates seen in both countries and time is sometimes explained with reference to specific types of social policies as mentioned in this paper, which is sometimes referred to as fertility paradox.
Abstract: Variation in fertility rates, across both countries and time, is sometimes explained with reference to specific types of social policies. In particular, the recent increase in fertility rates seen ...
TL;DR: The authors argue that this striking policy convergence has to do with the public perception of the target groups, and show that these general popular images influence the way the public wants active labour market policy to be conducted.
Abstract: Summary Even though the shift from ‘passive’ to ‘active’ labour market policy exhibits large crossnational variations, all examples seem to share two common characteristics: (a) the first group exposed to the new policies and the group exposed to the harshest policies was young people on social assistance; and (b) as the target group gradually came to include ‘ordinary’ unemployed people, most countries made exceptions for the oldest unemployed people. The article argues that this striking policy convergence has to do with the public perception of the target groups. The article substantiates this argument first, by giving a theoretical explanation for the different popular images of target groups, and second, by showing – using a national Australian sample – that these general popular images influence the way the public wants ‘active’ labour market policy to be conducted.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that existing accounts of the underdevelopment of social Europe have failed to adequately integrate the contending obstacles that explain the absence they rightly identify, and employ a critical realist methodology, including the concepts of generation, emergence, and stratification, to more adequately integrate knowledge of the obstacles to social Europe.
Abstract: Summary This article argues that existing accounts of the underdevelopment of ‘Social Europe’ have failed to adequately integrate the contending obstacles that explain the absence they rightly identify It argues that by employing a critical realist methodology, including the concepts of generation, emergence, and stratification, it is possible to more adequately integrate knowledge of the obstacles to ‘Social Europe’ Concretely, the article argues that obstacles to ‘Social Europe’ exist at three strata, constituted by institutional relations, political relations, and Europe-wide social relations, respectively The underdevelopment of ‘Social Europe’ emerged from the institutional stratum, which in turn was generated (but not determined) by the underlying political relations, which were themselves in turn generated by EU-wide social relations From this perspective, the oft-lamented absence of ‘Social Europe’ is an emergent property of underlying institutional, political and EU-wide social relations; its occurrence, therefore, is far less contingent than existing, less integrated, accounts suggest
TL;DR: Three theoretical frameworks for understanding the health care system and the role of the medical profession within it are outlined in order to establish which best explains the nature and extent of health care reform.
Abstract: Summary Greece has enacted three major health care reforms since the National Health System (NHS) was established in 1983. These reforms were designed to improve the system’s ability to realize its founding principles of equity and efficiency in the delivery and financing of health services. This article presents an early report of ongoing doctoral research that aims to examine the relative influence of medical professional organizations versus other interests on these reforms. The article outlines three theoretical frameworks for understanding the health care system and the role of the medical profession within it in order to establish which best explains the nature and extent of health care reform. These frameworks are: sociological theories of professions; historical institutionalism; and structural interest theory.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the reasons for this policy reversal, focusing on two key actors: governments and trade unions, and find that both government ideology and union representativeness matter.
Abstract: Whereas governments had previously designed early exit policies to unburden labour markets, they have come increasingly to regard them as problematic. We investigate the reasons for this policy reversal, focusing on two key actors: governments and trade unions. Our mixed-methods approach entails two major steps: first, we embed approaches to policy reform in a common framework to show the empirical relevance of the two major actors in most OECD countries. We find that both government ideology and union representativeness matter. In a second step, we investigate reform processes in two countries in more detail. Belgium and the Netherlands have much in common as regards government and interest groups but differ in terms of the reversal of early exit policies. We see that both the configuration of electoral and welfare state institutions have shaped the specific strategic environment of the two actors in both countries.
TL;DR: The authors investigated the reasons for this policy and found that governments had previously designed early exit policies to unburden labour markets, but they have come increasingly to regard them as problematic, and they investigate the reasons why this policy rev...
Abstract: Whereas governments had previously designed early exit policies to unburden labour markets, they have come increasingly to regard them as problematic. We investigate the reasons for this policy rev ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the resulting problems in social dialogue with regard to VET in the new member states, using Latvia as a case-study, and pointed out that the prevailing neo-liberal environment in many post-communist new member state undermines "reform fit" between broad European social policy goals and narrower domestic agendas.
Abstract: Summary Vocational education and training (VET) is regarded by EU policymakers as crucial to creating a high-skill workforce capable of adapting to European and global demands in an intensified competitive environment. It is part of the so-called Copenhagen Process, in which social dialogue between employers and employees is seen as an important means of realizing policy. However, many of the new member states from the Eastern European countries which joined the European Union in 2004 have only weak forms of social dialogue. Moreover, the prevailing neo-liberal environment in many post-communist new member states undermines ‘reform fit’ between broad European social policy goals and narrower domestic agendas. This article explores the resulting problems in social dialogue with regard to VET in the new member states, using Latvia as a case-study.
TL;DR: The authors argue for an institutionally grounded complexity analysis, bringing together the historical institutionalism of Pierson (2004) and Crouch (2005) and the treatment of dynamically coupled adaptive systems by Kauffman (1993, 1995) and Potts (2000).
Abstract: Social policy research deploys a variety of approaches for analysing processes of dynamic change but these face major limitations. This article argues for an institutionally grounded complexity analysis, bringing together the historical institutionalism of Pierson (2004) and Crouch (2005) and the treatment of dynamically coupled adaptive systems by Kauffman (1993; 1995) and Potts (2000). It concludes that, at the very least, social policy researchers will need to make a considered assessment of these complexity-based approaches, as they invade an increasing area of the social sciences.
TL;DR: The European Parliament (EP) was supposed to adopt a resolution on the social package during its next plenary session, but on 25 September all the tabled resolutions by the political groups were defeated as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: During the September plenary session of the European Parliament (1–4 September 2008), a debate was held on the Renewed Social Agenda proposed by the European Commission (Digest, JESP, 18.4.1). The debate revealed clear ideological divergences concerning the future of social policy in the EU, with some deputies attacking what they perceived as a watering down of social Europe and protection for citizens in the Commission’s proposal. Others warned of the adverse economic effect of excessive regulation. The European Parliament (EP) was supposed to adopt a resolution on the social package during its next plenary session, but on 25 September all the tabled resolutions by the political groups were defeated (European Parliament, 2008a). The demand for more Social Europe was also the reason for the inability of the EP to adopt a common position on its priorities for the European CommissionWork and Legislative Programme 2009. On 24 September, the EP rejected a proposed joint resolution from the EPP-ED, ALDE and UEN* groups, as well as all individual group resolutions (European Parliament, 2008b). Among themore controversial issues was a vote on a PES amendment calling on the Commission to bring forward proposals for new social legislation (for instance on services of general interest). Also controversial was an ALDE amendment on the accession process with Croatia and Turkey. This gave up the wording ‘to conclude the process as soon as possible with Croatia’: according to the amended text, the objective was merely to ‘pursue the accession process with Croatia and Turkey, in hope that the two countries fulfil all the criteria in the necessary time’. On 15 September, the Council adopted its common positions on the draft Directives on working time and temporary work. These were described by Commissioner Vladimír Špidla as concrete examples of flexicurity, following the political agreement of June 2008. According to him, this
TL;DR: The Cash and Care: Policy Challenges in the Welfare State as mentioned in this paper is a case study of the Cash-for-Care in Developed Welfare States (C4C) program.
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