Activation Or Workfare? Governance And The Neo-liberal Convergence (international Policy Exchange Series)
by Ivar Lodemel /
2014 / English / PDF
2.3 MB Download
The last decade of the 20th century was marked by a shift in how
welfare-states deal with those at the bottom of the income ladder.
This shift involved the introduction/strengthening of
work-obligations as a condition for receiving minimum income
benefits - which, in some countries, was complemented by efforts to
help recipients return to the labour market, namely through the
investment in active labour market policies (ALMP).
The last decade of the 20th century was marked by a shift in how
welfare-states deal with those at the bottom of the income ladder.
This shift involved the introduction/strengthening of
work-obligations as a condition for receiving minimum income
benefits - which, in some countries, was complemented by efforts to
help recipients return to the labour market, namely through the
investment in active labour market policies (ALMP).
Based on case-studies of developments in the US and eight European
nations (UK, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, France,
Portugal and the Czech Republic), this book argues that this first
set of reforms was followed by a second wave of reforms that,
whilst deepening the path towards the focus on work, brings
important innovations- be it the tools used to help recipients back
to the labour markets (ex., financial incentives) and in how
activation policies are delivered (ex., integration of benefit and
employment services).
Based on case-studies of developments in the US and eight European
nations (UK, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, France,
Portugal and the Czech Republic), this book argues that this first
set of reforms was followed by a second wave of reforms that,
whilst deepening the path towards the focus on work, brings
important innovations- be it the tools used to help recipients back
to the labour markets (ex., financial incentives) and in how
activation policies are delivered (ex., integration of benefit and
employment services).
Looking at the array of developments introduced during this period,
we discern two key trends.
Looking at the array of developments introduced during this period,
we discern two key trends.
The first concerns the strengthening of the role of the market in
the governance of activation, which is visible in the strengthening
of the focus on work, or the marketisation of employment services.
The second, concerns a move towards the individualisation of
service delivery, visible in the expansion of the use of personal
action plans or in efforts to streamline service delivery.
The first concerns the strengthening of the role of the market in
the governance of activation, which is visible in the strengthening
of the focus on work, or the marketisation of employment services.
The second, concerns a move towards the individualisation of
service delivery, visible in the expansion of the use of personal
action plans or in efforts to streamline service delivery.
Finally, we show that the onset of the sovereign debt crisis in
Europe, has triggered a new wave of reforms. Whilst tentative only,
our analysis points to a worrying trend of the curtailment or
benefits (Portugal) and activation services (Netherlands, Czech
Republic) to minimum income recipients and, in parallel, a further
deepening of the focus on work-conditionality (UK and Norway).
Finally, we show that the onset of the sovereign debt crisis in
Europe, has triggered a new wave of reforms. Whilst tentative only,
our analysis points to a worrying trend of the curtailment or
benefits (Portugal) and activation services (Netherlands, Czech
Republic) to minimum income recipients and, in parallel, a further
deepening of the focus on work-conditionality (UK and Norway).
