8th ESPAnet Conference 2010Social Policy and the Global Crisis:
|
9.3. European Welfare States and Labor Markets in Situations of Crises
The current global economic crisis is affecting virtually all European economies. Yet, this common shock may lead to notable divergence in labor market responses and policy-making across European countries.
Some signs of this are already visible: while in some countries employment has been rather stable, in others it has declined steeply and resulted in a massive increase in unemployment. Countries report also marked differences in the extent to which (i) particular sectors (exposed vs. domestic sectors, manufacturing vs. services) or (ii) specific socio-economic groups are affected by the crisis (e.g. young vs. old, men vs. women).
Against this background, the proposed stream will try to shed light on variations in labor market developments in the current situation as well as on attempts to explain (i) these differences in labor market outcomes and (ii) the choice of different policies to cope with the crisis with references to existing (path dependent) labor market institutions and the political economy of institutional reforms. Core policy areas influencing labor market adaptation and hence to be considered are fiscal and tax policies, unemployment benefits and active labor market policies, dismissal protection and regulation of flexible types of employment as well as wage setting and working time policies. Regarding both the im-pact of policies and institutions on the labor market outcomes and the policy-making be-hind this, there may be significant differences between attempts made by the countries. On the one hand, countries may choose a strategy of short-term stabilization of jobs, e.g. with publicly subsidized short-time work schemes. One the other hand, countries may seize this ‘exceptional’ opportunity to implement policies that facilitate more medium-run or long-term structural shifts in the economy, that can potentially pave way to more far-reaching system-changing reforms, for instance towards more “flexicurity”. Hence, the stream would benefit from papers analyzing the different implications of shocks on labor markets and welfare states. Papers that study earlier crises and policy responses can also be very helpful in this respect.
The stream is suitable both for national or sectoral case studies as well as for cross-country comparisons either in a quantitative, qualitative or mixed fashion. It is related to the theme "Economic Crises and Social Policy Reactions in the Past and Present".
Conveners:
| Werner Eichhorst | Minna van Gerven | |
| Deputy Director of Labor Policy IZA Institute for the Study of Labor P.O. Box 7240, 53072 Bonn, Germany Schaumburg-Lippe-Str. 5-9, 53113 Bonn, Germany Phone: +49 (228) 3894-531 Fax: +49 (228) 3894-510 E-Mail: eichhorst@iza.org |
Assistant Professor in Sociology of Governance The University of Twente, The Netherlands Faculty of Management & Governance Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands Tel: +31-53-4893222 Fax: +31-53-4892159 e-mail: minna.vangerven@utwente.nl |
Friday, 17:00-19:00 Room 03, Session 9.3/A
Presentations
1. Stefano Sacchi, Claudia Arisi, Federico Pancaldi: Social protection responses to the employment crisis: short-time schemes in Italy in a comparative perspective [abstract] [paper]
2. Tim Van Rie, Ive Marx: Belgium vs. The Netherlands: Is the crisis a path-breaking or path-reinforcing event? [abstract] [paper]
Contributed papers:
1. Mariely López-Santana & Rossella Moyer: Re-designing the Institutional Configuration of the Welfare State: Why is the intergovernmental model you choose relevant? [abstract] [paper]
2. Claudia Bogedan: Labor market policies in Germany – explaining the usage of old school instruments [abstract] [paper]
Saturday, 9:00-11:00 Room 03, Session 9.3/B
Presentations:
1. Anttila, Timo & Oinas, Tomi , Hartikainen Armi & Nätti, Jouko: Flexibility of work time and work place among European employees [abstract] [paper]
2. Tord S. Lindén: Common shock, different responses? Policy recommendations of expert commissions in Norway, Denmark, Germany and the UK [abstract] [paper]
3. Michaela Schulze: On the Margins of Social Policy? Trade Unions and Activation Reforms in Denmark, Germany and the US [abstract] [paper]
Contributed papers:
-
Important dates
17 November 2009 = Call for stream convenors
18 December 2009 = Deadline for stream convenors
25 January 2010 = Call for abstracts
29 March 2010 = Deadline for abstract submission
3 May 2010 = Registration starts
6 June 2010 = Reduced fee application deadline
21 June 2010 24:00 (CET) = Early bird registration deadline
13 August 2010 24:00 (CET) - Deadline for submission of papers
16 August 2010 - Deadline for Registrations and payments
Registration fee is 160 Euros for early birds, 210 Euros for late birds. Central and Eastern European PhD students and professionals can apply for a reduced fee of 60 Euros at info@espanet2010.net until 6th June.
Registration opens on the 3rd May, early bird registration closes on the 21th June at 24:00 (CET).
Theme of the Conference
The theme of ESPAnet’s 2010 Annual Conference is the social consequences of the global financial crisis and its differential impact across Europe. The main questions for consideration include:
How is the crisis affecting already existing inequalities? How are different social classes and groups, especially those in poverty, affected by the crisis? What are the adaptable capacities of the different “worlds of welfare”? Does the intensifying social vulnerability lead to the re-structuring of the programs to provide more security? How far have new programs been developed, and how far have new questions of social policy and welfare been opened up by the crisis?
We would like to broaden the horizon of social policy analysis and see global environmental concerns taken into account: How far are responses to the crisis re-thinking the role of the national and international/global state and the role of the European Union in creating economically, socially and environmentally sustainable societies?