Max Koch
FD och habilitation i sociologi från Freie Universität Berlin | Professor
Patterns of Institutional Change in Minimum Income Protection in Sweden and Germany
Författare
Summary, in English
Germany is generally regarded as a case of qualitative “change” in minimum income protection (MIP) schemes, while Sweden is perceived as one of institutional “inertia”.This paper seeks to qualify this view by embedding developments in MIP in wider policy and governance trends. Empirically, it is based on document analysis and
qualitative expert interviews in the two countries. Theoretically, the paper applies recent institutional approaches that address patterns of change in more complex ways. In Sweden, an exclusive focus on formal continuity regarding social assistance would
disguise its change in function from temporary security system of last resort into one that permanently provides income protection when neighboring policy fields,unemployment and sickness insurance, are downsized. Conversely, in Germany a merger of social assistance and unemployment assistance took place. Yet an exclusive
focus on the Hartz reforms would downplay the degree of continuity that nevertheless exists in the unemployment insurance.
qualitative expert interviews in the two countries. Theoretically, the paper applies recent institutional approaches that address patterns of change in more complex ways. In Sweden, an exclusive focus on formal continuity regarding social assistance would
disguise its change in function from temporary security system of last resort into one that permanently provides income protection when neighboring policy fields,unemployment and sickness insurance, are downsized. Conversely, in Germany a merger of social assistance and unemployment assistance took place. Yet an exclusive
focus on the Hartz reforms would downplay the degree of continuity that nevertheless exists in the unemployment insurance.
Avdelning/ar
- Socialhögskolan
Publiceringsår
2014
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
165-179
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy
Volym
30
Issue
2
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Taylor & Francis
Ämne
- Social Work
Nyckelord
- Incremental institutional change
- minimum income protection
- social assistance
- welfare reforms
- Sweden
- Germany
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 2169-9763