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Bringing the Jobless into Work? An Introduction to Activation Policies

In: Bringing the Jobless into Work?

Author

Listed:
  • W. Eichhorst

    (Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA))

  • O. Kaufmann

    (Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Foreign and International Social Law)

  • R. Konle-Seidl

    (Institute of Employment Research (IAB))

  • H. -J. Reinhard

    (The University of Fulda)

Abstract

The general trend towards activation has been one of the major issues in recent welfare and labour market reforms in Europe and the US. In many of these countries this issue has dominated the socio-economic and legal debate. Despite considerable variation across national models with respect to the scope and intensity of activation, it is evident that redefining the link between social protection and labour market policies on the one hand and employment on the other has been a common issue in labour market reforms. At first sight, activation is a compellingly simple idea. For people of working age, doing something useful – especially working – is much better than sitting out time on a public benefit, however generous or meagre it may be. This is certainly desirable for better social cohesion, solidarity and the long-term viability of welfare states and public budgets. It is probably this straight-forward normative idea that is responsible for the widespread appeal and success of policy measures introduced under the label of activation. From an economic point of view, the shift to activating labour market policies is often portrayed as a necessary response to high levels of structural unemployment. However, such changes are more than a mere technical adjustment of welfare programmes to a changing economic climate. They represent new ideas about the goals of public policy and the social rights of citizenship reflecting a departure from the ideas and goals of the post-war welfare state (Cox 1998).

Suggested Citation

  • W. Eichhorst & O. Kaufmann & R. Konle-Seidl & H. -J. Reinhard, 2008. "Bringing the Jobless into Work? An Introduction to Activation Policies," Springer Books, in: Werner Eichhorst & Otto Kaufmann & Regina Konle-Seidl (ed.), Bringing the Jobless into Work?, pages 1-16, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-540-77435-8_1
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-77435-8_1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eichhorst, Werner & Konle-Seidl, Regina, 2016. "Evaluating Labour Market Policy," IZA Discussion Papers 9966, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Klimczuk, Andrzej & Gawron, Grzegorz & Szweda-Lewandowska, Zofia, 2021. "Starzenie się populacji. Aktywizacja, koprodukcja i integracja społeczna osób starszych [Population Ageing: Activation, Co-Production, and Social Integration of Older People]," MPRA Paper 108238, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Raquel Justo & Emilio Congregado & Concepción Román, 2021. "Becoming self-employed from inactivity: an in-depth analysis of satisfaction," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 145-187, January.
    4. Klimczuk, Andrzej, 2013. "Budowa kapitału społecznego ludzi starych w kontekście polityk aktywizacji i aktywnego starzenia się [Building Older People Social Capital in the Context of Activation Policies and Active Ageing]," MPRA Paper 61868, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Andrew Jones, 2010. "Localising welfare reform: The case for devolution," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 25(1), pages 1-9, February.

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