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Two influential recent approaches to social policy in Europe imply (for different reasons) that the reforms currently on the agenda, which typically involve cost-containment, are peculiarly difficult to achieve. Esping-Andersen sees much of Europe as set in a "frozen welfare landscape", due to the power of the interests advantaged by the status quo. Pierson sees retrenchment as a peculiarly difficult problem for all governments, regardless of their political ideology. This paper reviews recent pension policy in France, Germany, Italy and the UK. It argues that developments in Germany indicate that it is possible to achieve appropriate policy change in the country which is often used as the paradigm of entrenched interests without major restructuring of the system. Conversely, recent reforms in the UK (seen by Pierson as the country which has achieved the most rapid changes) appear disproportionate to the scale of the problems faced and may have damaged pensioners' interests. This indicates that the capacity to achieve substantial reform is not necessarily in itself a virtue. The real issue is the quality of reform achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the extent to which, and the ways in which, it might be justified in talking of a movement towards convergence of social policy within Europe. It reviews definitions and typologies of the welfare state as a prelude to discussion of the different theoretical types and possibilities of social policy integration, which itself leads into consideration of supranational EU developments. The empirical data presented in respect of "social protection" expenditures (and taxation regimes) in general and of "active" and "passive" labour market expenditures in particular, lend support to the notion not merely that the welfare state is not yet over in Europe, but that forms of social policy convergence are in evidence already. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades disability has emerged as a key area for European social policy. So far there have been few indications of a general trend towards greater similarity in the disability policies of member states. This paper argues that attempts to promote common approaches and patterns of effort between member states are more likely to succeed in “vacant” sub-areas of disability policy than in more “crowded” ones. Existing redistributive provisions within income maintenance, employment and independent living are examples of crowded sub-areas. By contrast, the emerging anti-discrimination legislation and other forms of market regulation recently introduced by the EU may point towards more vacant policy areas within member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of the social welfare systems in Europe in the postwar period appears as autonomous national processes because the construction of Europe which imposed common rules in many areas was equally consistent with the national development of social welfare systems, within each national culture. However, the idea of a common system of social protection has always remained linked to political and economic European construction which would create a more cohesive society. Many studies have analysed the trend of specific social policies and their convergence or divergence in Europe. Therefore, global convergence is often conceived as resulting from the domestic dynamics of each social risk. The paper focuses on one specific topic: the quantitative evaluation of convergence among the EU and OECD countries at the macroeconomic level. In the first part we explain the construction of social indicators which can assess the convergence or divergence of social expenditure in EU and OECD countries. In the second part we show many methodological problems and difficulties of interpretation of the social indicators. Then we see that the analysis of national trajectories of social expenditure and the link with economic development can enrich the analysis of convergence in social protection. Finally, the empirical analysis supports the idea of “adjustment” reforms rather than radical changes in a transitional period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Focuses on the issues fundamental to the social policy and social policy making in Canada. Information on the issues of federal and provincial relations in social policy making writ large; Implications of the issues for certain regions or sectors of policy in the country.

Abstract: The article provides an assessment to what extent reforms of occupational pensions (OP) have fostered a “risk shift” or increased social protection dualism across countries. The essay focuses on workers, whilst previous research primarily analyzed provision for current pensioners. The empirical analysis confirms that in countries such as the Netherlands and Sweden, increased private pension or (OP) provision does not necessarily lead towards social protection dualism and comprehensive risk shifts. Britain continues to be characterized by strong social protection dualism and entrenched social divides, creating “social policy enclaves”. Divisions of welfare are also very likely to be a feature of the German pension system in the future. The latter two countries have witnessed clear risk shifts and processes of dualization. The pension systems in Austria, Italy, and Spain have not witnessed paradigmatic changes, and continue to be primarily based on public/statutory pension schemes. The idea that multi‐pillarization in itself fosters major risk shifts and dualization has to be reconsidered. Under specific conditions, encompassing OPs can be functionally equivalent to public pension schemes. However, countries relying on voluntarism with regard to OPs coverage tend to witness processes of dualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union has a federal structure, in which each citizen is subject to two governments. The position of social policy within the federation is contested, but the EU has gradually developed powers through the extension of its competence, direct intervention in social welfare issues and the push for "convergence", or agreement on minimum standards. Consistent with its federal nature, the European model of the welfare state is based on convergence, integration of the excluded and social protection through the gradual extension of solidarity. The precise role that the federal government will take on within this is unclear, but it is already having a major impact on social welfare and its influence is likely to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cash‐for‐care (CfC) schemes have introduced a key transformation in long‐term care policies across Europe since the 1990s. The article explores the extent to which CfC policies have changed over time and into which directions, the ways in which change (if any) has occurred and the forces underlying it. By combining the literature on institutional change with ideational approaches, the article focuses on policy theories and policy designs, on modes of change and factors pushing for change within the CfC policy, and in the long‐term care and neighbouring policy fields. In doing so, we aim to contribute to understanding institutional change and the transformation of an increasingly important sector of the welfare state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author presents an overview of the third in their series of regional special collections, which focuses on Europe. The variety and range of the collection is in recognition to the level of interest about matters of social policy in Europe. The Europe which is under reviews in not the continent of the established welfare statesm though it is very much the Europe of the Union and of the Union it might become. The regional collections brings together existing familiar associations of interest and expertise, and also generating additional discourse.

While many academic accounts treat post-communist Europe as just another site of Europeanization with an emphasis on ‘adaptation’ and ‘learning’, this article argues that EU integration and the transformation of post-communist Europe is a much more complex, volatile and uncertain process; not so much one of adaptation but more a ‘quantum leap’, apparently bypassing the stage of a Keynesian regime. Post-communist Europe is asked to join an EU agenda that has many features of what Jessop calls the ‘Schumpeterian Workfare Postnational Regime’ (SWPR). In that sense, EU integration of post-communist welfare is not simply a ‘catch-up’, it is a complex transformation process whereby, rather than EU Enlargement and Eastern Europe being seen as a threat to ‘Social Europe’, the EU imposes its own ‘social deficit’ and economic hegemony onto Eastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, somewhat drastic pension reforms have taken place in all European countries. The pension systems developed in the last century are no longer considered to be suited to the changing demographic constellations in European countries, and the financial sustainability of these systems is under threat. Moreover, the changing political and economic set-up in European countries is also used to justify reforming the different pension systems. Different reasons can be given to explain the various pension reform measures without, however, there being any integrated coherence. We suggest that a politics of social policy, and of pension policy in particular, based on a life-course perspective, facilitates the understanding of the whole range of pension reform measures. In the past, the elaborated pension systems were attuned to a normative standard biography. A new standard biography, with different phases and more transitions and combinations, enables one to understand the variety of the ongoing pension reform measures. Such a life-course perspective integrates sequences of learning, working and caring considered necessary for the polity. In other words, it is based on a conception of human potential, and it integrates, to some extent, the previously separate domains of labour market policy, education policy, care policy and pension policy. However, recent theoretical and empirical studies of the life course lead to a critical evaluation of the new standard biography, with the conclusion that the new standard is one-sided and scientifically unsound, entailing challenges for social policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative studies of European social policies towards frail elderly people typically focus on the systems and their implementation. The study presented in this article, conducted in 2001 in six European countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Sweden) aims at comparing the rights of the individuals within the different care systems. The methodology used is a case study approach, which draws on a series of situations of dependent elderly people. Therefore, the analysis focuses on the public authorities’ responses – the care packages, which determine the type of care required and the financial contribution of the user – in each of the six countries, in relation to the concrete situations of frail elderly people. As local variations are important, in all the countries studied, local authorities have been chosen in each of the countries. This approach gives us interesting concrete elements on the services and financial help which can be given to frail elderly people, but it also enables us to understand precisely the national care systems organized in the different countries and the main difficulties encountered by public authorities in facing this problem of frail elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nordic welfare states have usually been characterized by encompassing or institutional systems of public provisions, both in general and for people with impairment in particular. Provisions have been perceived as being more universalistic in coverage, more generous in terms of benefit levels and availability of services, and with a greater emphasis on prevention and coordination, than provisions in other Western countries. Yet the success of the Nordic system of disability protection has recently been questioned on various grounds. These criticisms have resulted in a number of reforms recently introduced or about to be implemented. This reorientation is likely to reduce the prominence of some characteristics of the Nordic model in this particular area. Under the ongoing influence of European integration, we will probably see a shift of emphasis away from redistributive provisions-especially income transfers-to regulative provisions, meant to ensure accessibility and combat discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Where are we at with European integration in the context of increasing world market interdependence? How does European integration already affect national welfare states? How does the asynchronic realization of the four market freedoms in building the Single Market affect the developmental potential for a European vision of welfare? Is Europe a special case in world market integration? Does the Western European case offer unique chances for defending its welfare state cultures — if not any mare at the national, then now at the European level? Are these chances special compared with other integration efforts such as NAFTA? Questions such as these are confronted in this essay. The author sees the twenty-first century as a special window of opportunity for re-embedding the post-World War II welfare state compact at the European level, though this will not take the form of a déjà vu, of a "European welfare state". Rather it may take the form of a mixture of European "re-insurance" of basic welfare elements, "integrated" welfare state reform efforts EC-wide and sectoral "buffer insurance" (for example for European Monetary Union in the area of unemployment). Such steps require a constitutional move towards a full economic and fiscal union. Compared with the USA Europe will otherwise never be able to "get its act together". An EFTA will not do in Europe, on such saturated welfare state terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The welfare state, having reached maturity in most European countries, faces challenges from economic, social and political developments. Some studies argue that common pressures are likely to evoke similar responses; others suggest that the differences between welfare regimes both permit and require different policies. It is also suggested that the single European market will require convergence in tax regimes, social provision and entitlements to ensure fairer competition and to prevent “social dumping”. Analysis of data from a survey of politicians, representatives of business, trade unions, civil servants and others shows some convergence in the recognition of problems in welfare policy and in ideas about finance. However, debate about the response to similar issues often differs, according to the detail of institutional structure and the pattern of interests it produces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal features of Spanish social policy are examined since the transition to democracy in the mid-1970. The period has been dominated by the four governments of the Socialists under Felipe Gonzalez. It will be argued that in terms of the reform of welfare goals and institutional arrangements, as well as welfare inputs and outputs, a significant degree of "Europeanization'" has been achieved. This is especially true of the later period of Gonzalez's premiership in which this process, initiated during the Transition, was accelerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]