Implementing Activation Policies

This book analyses how activation reforms change the multilevel governance of social and labour market policy in Continental Europe. Implementation studies in France and Germany show the crucial role of the local level. Diverse local models of the organisation of active labour market policy, placement, social services and benefits emerge.

Continental Europe's welfare states have recently initiated a shift from passive policies towards goals of an activation of the unemployed. Their aim is to organise more individualised approaches and to provide targeted job placement, active labour market policy and social services. Analysing these reforms, this book illustrates that a successful implementation of activation policies is highly contingent on their local organisation. This finding is reinforced by a series of case studies in France and Germany revealing large differences in the local application of the reforms. Consequently, the question of reliable multilevel governance solutions becomes a key issue. In view of this challenge, the book compares different approaches practiced to govern activation policies in Continental Europe.

Autorentext

Sebastian Künzel is researcher at the International Labour Organization. He works on public employment services, employment, active labour market and welfare policy. As member of the European Union's Research Framework Programme, he had had research and university assignments in Oldenburg (Germany), Bordeaux and Marseille (both France).

Inhalt
Contents: Rising numbers of long-term unemployed and minimum income benefit recipients in Continental Europe Activation reforms in Bismarckian welfare states Re-organising welfare, placement, active labour market policy and social services Implementing activation policies in France and Germany Local governance of fragmented activation regimes.