During the policy process ahead of the 2008 renewal of the European Employment Strategy (EES), the European Commission's introduction of Flexicurity policies aroused much criticism. Researchers and trade unionists claimed that the Commission's embracing of the concept was a rhetorical manoeuvre rather than a genuine attempt to substantially revise the strategy. This article challenges these claims. Drawing on policy learning theory and discourse analysis, the Commission's policy recommendations prior to and past the introduction of Flexicurity are analysed. The main finding is that one of the policy components subsumed by the EES -modern social security systems -has undergone considerable revision. Moreover, the article argues that this revision possibly stems from a learning process. In relation to the literature on the open method of co-ordination (OMC), the study therefore adds that the OMC's learning effects should be assessed not only on the national level. The European institutions -in this case, the Commission -can also be subject to learning.
This article investigates how unions can strengthen their role in settings that are highly affected by globalisation and liberalisation through engagement in local partnerships for skill formation. We identify a number of capacities possessed by unions that can be complementary to firms and other actors in the local arena and thus be formative for such partnerships. We build our argument by drawing on concepts from the literature on trade union revitalisation, on governance and on political economy. The article’s claims are substantiated by a multiple-case study from Denmark that illustrates how union-based partnerships have successfully facilitated retraining and labour market inclusion for workers who were made redundant during economic restructuring and, due to neoliberal reforms, were cut off from adequate assistance from the public employment system.
Siden midten af 1990’erne er brugen af ordinær uddannelse i beskæftigelsesindsatsen for de forsikrede ledige faldet mærkbart. Udviklingen blev forstærket efter arbejdsformidlingssystemets nedlæggelse og oprettelsen af kommunale jobcentre i 2009. Imidlertid er der store forskelle mellem kommunerne. I artiklen undersøger vi hvilke faktorer, der har betydning for omfanget af kommunernes brug af uddannelse. Med afsæt i litteraturen formuleres tre hypoteser, og efterfølgende analyseres et datasæt konstrueret på baggrund af Jobindsats.dk. Analysen viser blandt andet, at uddannelsesaktivering gennemsnitligt set fylder mere i røde kommuner end blå. Desuden er uddannelse mere udbredt i de nord- og midtjyske kommuner end på Sjælland. Endelig viser analysen, at syv af kommunerne i topti ligger i bæltet fra Vestjylland over Thy til Vendsyssel – den såkaldt ’rådne banan’. Vi diskuterer i den forbindelse, om det er fraflytning og mangel på arbejdskraft, der har forårsaget human kapital-strategiens revival i denne del af Udkantsdanmark.
The programme examines how just transitions whilst tackling climate change and biodiversity is key to supporting inclusive economies and societies in the future. Through the programme, the Academy awarded funding to nine research projects exploring the actions required in sectors and industries globally across supply and value chains, with a focus on key economic emitters or areas of society that will help reduce and/or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. The programme was funded by the UK's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
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