The activation dilemma
Reconciling the fairness and effectiveness of minimum income schemes in Europe
By Amilcar Moreira
Published
Jun 20, 2008Page count
168 pagesISBN
978-1847420466Dimensions
240 x 172 mmImprint
Policy Press
The activation dilemma
The activation of social welfare recipients has been, and still is, a central issue in the development of social and employment policies in Europe. This ambitious book explores the employment effectiveness of minimum income schemes, and provides the first comprehensive examination of its dependency on how the rights and obligations of the recipients are defined.
The book argues that the right to a minimum income can only be adequately justified with reference to the individual's right to personal development. Combining political theory and policy analysis, the author draws on evidence from eight different European countries to illustrate how it is possible to combine higher levels of employment effectiveness with the respect for recipients' right to personal development.
Exploring the balance between fairness and effectiveness in the activation of minimum income recipients and acknowledging that individuals have both rights and obligations, this book will provide a useful reference tool to students, researchers and policy-makers with an interest in the work versus welfare nexus.
"As Europe struggles to strike a balance between rights, obligations and effectiveness in the provision of minimum income, Amilcar Moreira not only captures the complexity of today’s issues, but also advances our understanding of them." Ivar Lødemel, Professor, Oslo University College
"At the heart of social policy lies the question: how to balance social justice and economic efficiency? In this splendid study of minimum income schemes and activation, Amilcar Moreira combines social theory and empirical comparison in a novel but convincing analysis." Graham Room, Professor of European Social Policy, University of Bath, UK
"As Europe struggles to strike a balance between rights, obligations and effectiveness in the provision of minimum income schemes, Amilcar Moreira not only captures the complexity of today's issues, but also advances our understanding of them." Professor Ivar Lødemel, Oslo University College, Norway
Amilcar Moreira is a research fellow at The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin. His work has concentrated on the 'work versus welfare' nexus and explores the connection between political theory and policy analysis.
Contents: Introduction; The right to a minimum income: between Mead and Van Parijs; Justifying a minimum income guarantee: the right to personal development; The activation dilemma: a comparative study; Measuring respect for the right to personal development; The employment effectiveness of minimum income schemes; The employment effectiveness of minimum income schemes and their respect for the right to personal development; Conclusion.