Introduction: Rethinking Welfare State Models

Petersen, Klaus; Kettunen, Pauli

doi:10.4337/9781849809603.00007

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…From this point of view, despite starting from diverse positions, most EU countries were already converging towards common trends, reflecting the role of the state in changing economic regimes and the design of the diverse participation of society in welfare provisions. In the meantime, the shift from a welfare state to social investment and the organization of a welfare society were considered as leverage to increase opportunities by giving more responsibility to community members in their everyday lives [59][60][61][62][63]. This approach has also received criticism among those arguing for the risk of public retirement as an outcome of a neoliberal regime where economic enterprises find justification to reduce their contributions to society that are ensured by the fiscal system.…”

Section: Social Demands and Social Farming In A Challenging Scenariomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For arising crises (economic, financial, social, and environmental), part of the debate on innovative welfare solutions focuses on the passage from state intervention to social impacts, regenerative solutions, and the organization of a welfare society [8,[59][60][61][62]. The pro-active participation of society and the organization of a stronger subsidiarity among public and private actors (NGOs, civil society, and private firms) are considered possible paths to build innovative visions and mobilize, in a collective way, the resources needed to enlarge the living spaces of society.…”

Section: Redesigning Services and Value Creation In Social Farmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social Farming Evolutionary Web: from Public Intervention to Value Co-Production

Iacovo

2020

Sustainability

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The organization of multifunctional agriculture for the provision of social/health/educational services is spreading throughout Europe and elsewhere. This concept is not new, and the organization of practices differs according to each country’s welfare model. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the existing practices and trends and to provide a suitable comprehensive framework. Starting from long-term research action on this topic started in 1999 and from participation in European research projects and networks, this paper reflects on the features of existing practices and distinguishes emerging social farming models. Specific attention is given to the potential of social farming for both global change and the re-organization of local societies and welfare organizations. The diverse social farming models and their interactions with emerging constraints and needs during times of challenge and crisis, such as those we are currently experiencing, are considered in order to understand their basic principles (from direct support to co-production models), as well as how they correlate with the ongoing process of welfare reorganization and evolutionary societal demands.

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Section: Social Demands and Social Farming In A Challenging Scenariomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Redesigning Services and Value Creation In Social Farmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Farming Evolutionary Web: from Public Intervention to Value Co-Production

Iacovo

2020

Sustainability

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“…Historically, the idea of the virtuous circle has been used to refer to both existing relationships and to anticipate the normative standards of society for future change and potential reforms [5]. The use of the virtuous circle concept in this article is an act of "conversion" in which I provide an existing historical layer of institutions with new meanings (see [48] (p. 7)).…”

Section: Towards the Virtuous Circle Of Sustainable Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

The Virtuous Circle of Sustainable Welfare as a Transformative Policy Idea

Hirvilammi

2020

Sustainability

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Welfare states are highly dependent on the economic growth paradigm. Especially in social democratic welfare states, growth dependence has historically been accompanied by the notion of a virtuous circle, which ensures that social policy measures do not conflict with economic growth. However, this policy idea ignores the environmental impacts that are now challenging human wellbeing and welfare goals. In this conceptual research article, I reframe the virtuous circle of the welfare state by revealing its unintended consequences and internal contradictions before introducing a more sustainable policy idea. I argue that this new concept—a virtuous circle of sustainable welfare—could have transformative potential in designing a planned and socially sustainable degrowth transformation. Drawing on historical institutionalism, degrowth, social policy and sustainable welfare state research, I advocate for the virtuous circle as a heuristic tool to provide an appealing and convincing narrative for sustainable welfare state beyond growth. The policy idea of virtuous circle addresses interrelated institutional reforms and positive feedbacks between different institutions and policy goals. It also emphasizes that a holistic approach is necessary to avoid trade-offs and contradictions between social, environmental, and economic policies.

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“…Even though the 'universal welfare state' is a widely used concept, defining universalism is extremely difficult in terms of concrete welfare policies (Goul Andersen, 2012). In addition, it has to be acknowledged that even though there are similarities between the Nordic countries, their social security systems, including minimum income schemes, have developed differently (Kettunen & Petersen, 2011). We interpret universalism as a principle of social policy according to which people in the same situation should be treated the same, and as characteristic of the Nordic welfare state (Anttonen, Häikiö, Stefánsson, & Sipilä, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is There Room for Targeting within Universalism? Finnish Social Assistance Recipients as Social Citizens

Saikkonen

Ylikännö

2020

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This article focuses on the role of means-tested social assistance in Finland, which is often considered one of the Nordic welfare states described as having a universal welfare model. The article scrutinises the capacity of the final safety net to enhance the social citizenship of social assistance recipients. The Finnish social security system combines social insurance (earnings-related benefits), universal benefits (flat-rate benefits), free or affordable public services, and social assistance as a means-tested and targeted element, and thus it is a discussion on the degree of universalism that best captures the nature of universalism in the Finnish welfare state. Because the final safety net includes public services (especially social work) and income transfers (especially social assistance), its ability to strengthen social citizenship depends on both elements—separately and as a combination—as there may be a simultaneous need for financial aid and services. Whilst national registers provide data on social assistance, there is no national register data on municipal social services, which is why a survey was conducted. In this study, the heterogenic clients supported by the final safety net were described based on an open-ended question in the survey data. Statistics were then used to evaluate the frequency of client groups (capable clients, persistent clients, invisible clients, safety net dropouts). The article concludes that universalism as a social policy principle is challenged by the diversity of the clientele.

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Introduction: Rethinking Welfare State Models

Cited by 14 publications

References 7 publications

Social Farming Evolutionary Web: from Public Intervention to Value Co-Production

Social Farming Evolutionary Web: from Public Intervention to Value Co-Production

The Virtuous Circle of Sustainable Welfare as a Transformative Policy Idea

Is There Room for Targeting within Universalism? Finnish Social Assistance Recipients as Social Citizens

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