Flexibility of social support in crisis conditions. Experience and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic period 2020-2022 (Гъвкавост на социалната подкрепа в условията на кризи. Опит и уроци от периода на COVID-19 пандемията) - in Bulgarian

The monograph presents the results of the first comprehensive study in Bulgaria, completed in 2025 within the framework of the research program of the Institute for Economic Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, on significant and current issues for the functioning of the social support system (SSS) as a key part of the social protection system (SPS) in the context of crisis conditions and challenges, focusing on the flexibility and adequacy of policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in five main areas – (1) healthcare; (2) social security; (4) social services and (5) social benefits in kind. For the first time, a wide-ranging study is being carried out, which makes a complex quantitative and qualitative assessment of social support as a system from the position of the flexibility of the measures applied in the areas under consideration and the adaptability and adequacy of its functioning in crisis conditions – with a focus on the COVID-pandemic. The study was conducted based on an empirical analysis of information from official national and international statistical databases and reports of international institutions, and on a secondary analysis of the results of surveys and expert assessments in the EU and Bulgaria of the impact of the pandemic on various areas and sectors of public and human activity. As a result of the study, a conceptual vision was developed regarding the implementation of coordinated flexible social support in crises of different nature and specific reasoned proposals for guidelines and measures for providing flexible social support were formulated. introduction and definition of a new category "flexibility of the social support/protection system"; the flexibility of the social support system was defined as a specific part of the concept of adaptive social protection and the understanding that "flexibility" is its internal property was argued; a two-valued assessment of the flexibility of the system and its individual elements was made - as a state and as part of social policy; assessments of the main parameters of the elements of the social support system and systematization of their strengths and weaknesses were carried out. The monograph is intended for responsible administrative structures, including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, and institutions in the field of school and higher education with a view to taking the necessary actions and measures, as well as researchers, teachers, students and other interested parties.