Social protection to achieve sustainable inclusion: A European imperative in the current economic crisis

Abstract

Preventing social exclusion has become a critical issue in the European Union (EU) as a result of cutbacks in social expenditure imposed by Member States' exploding debt. This issue sits at the intersection of employment and training policies and of reforms seeking to adapt social protection systems to the new realities of the present socioeconomic context (population ageing, family instability, massive unemployment, employment insecurity, in-work poverty and persistent and increasing social inequality). This article will show that promoting social protection as part of a social investment approach is an excellent means of reconciling the objectives of equal opportunity over the life cycle, sustained economic performance (improved structural competitiveness) and strengthened social cohesion in the interest of collective well-being. Particular emphasis is given to the need to promote universal and individual rights to mobility and lifelong training, which would constitute new social guarantees, offsetting requirements linked to labour market flexibility. The article also emphasizes the importance of incorporating these rights throughout the EU as part of a wider social protection floor. This would offer permanent protection against the risk of exclusion in the Union, promote the economic and social integration sought since the revised Lisbon Strategy (2003)(2004)(2005), and create confidence and hope among Europe's citizens.

The digital economy and the future of European welfare states

“…However, redistributing part of the increase in societies’ wealth as free time could help to make certain that social cohesion will be less challenged than it would be otherwise. Social protection, in order to ensure social inclusion, could prove important (Euzéby, ). Given that people will work, but also have more free time, this could make possible jobs for more people and, importantly, provide income to meet household consumption needs.…”

Combining labour market and unemployment policies with environmental sustainability? A cross-national study on ecosocial innovations

“…Combining labour market and unemployment policies with environmental sustainability In social policy research or policy papers on the future of social security over the last 20 years, sustainability is mainly discussed as fiscal, financial or monetary sustainability (eg. Brugiavini & Galasso, 2004;Cooley & Soares, 1999;Euzéby, 2012). Cahill (2002) and Fitzpatrick (2002) were among the first to stipulate a social policy shift towards environmental sustainability.…”

Social Effects of Economic Crisis: Risk of Exclusion. An Overview of the European Context

“…This last variable is the only one related to the direct action of public policies, by means of helping people to face their poor situations. The social protection is, then, an important issue for policy makers involved in constructing a sustainable society [9]. In this paper, we have dealt with the expenditure on social protection, including social benefits, which are "transfers, in cash or in kind, to households and individuals to relieve them of the burden of a defined set of risks or needs; administration costs, which represent the costs charged to the scheme for its management and administration; other expenditure, which consists of miscellaneous expenditure by social protection schemes (payment of property income and other)" 4].…”