Publication
Title
Disappointing poverty trends : is the social investment state of blame?
Author
Abstract
Should we explain the disappointing outcomes of the Open Method of Co-ordination on Inclusion by methodological weaknesses or by substantive contradictions in the social investment paradigm? To clarify the underlying concepts, we first revisit the original Lisbon inspiration and then relate it to the idea of the new welfare state, as proposed in the literature on new risks in postindustrial societies. We then discuss two explanations for disappointing poverty trends, suggested by critical accounts of the social investment state: resource competition and a re-commodification. We do not find these explanations convincing per se and conclude that the jury is still out on the social investment state. However, policy-makers cannot ignore the failure of employment policies to reduce the proportion of children and working-age adults living in jobless households in the EU, and they should not deny the reality of a trilemma of activation. Finally, we identify policy conditions that may facilitate the complementarity of social investment and social inclusion.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of European social policy. - Harlow, 1991, currens
Publication
Harlow : 2011
ISSN
0958-9287 [print]
1461-7269 [online]
DOI
10.1177/0958928711418857
Volume/pages
21 :5 (2011) , p. 450-471
ISI
000298041100004
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 21.02.2012
Last edited 09.10.2023
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