Reforming Unemployment Policy in Europe: A Common Turn towards Activation?

Centre for Globalisation and Governance at the University of Hamburg cordially welcomes NordWel-members to the international symposium Reforming Unemployment Policy in Europe: A Common Turn towards Activation? The seminar will be held on May 15-16 , 2009, in the University of Hamburg
Centre for Globalisation and Governance (CGG). The organisers are Prof. Dr. Birgit Pfau-Effinger, Patrizia Aurich

With the introduction of the “Hartz”-reforms German unemployment policy has broken with the traditional principle of status protection. These developments resemble a new type of policy that aims at improving the interface of labour market and social policies with a focus on activating the unemployed as has been recommended by several supra-national actors (OECD, EU). With an increasing focus on labour supply, many countries in Europe have reformed their policies towards “activation” during the last 20 years. However, manifest differences between countries remain and different forms of “activation” have emerged: promoting the individualisation and improvement of services, on the one hand, and emphasising individual obligations to participate, on the other.

These variations in policy affect considerably possibilities of labour market re-integration for individuals: while some countries increasingly focus on qualifying the unemployed, others, such as Germany, have reduced access to these measures. Similarly the level of unemployment benefit provision differs widely. Within this context Denmark and the United Kingdom have been seen as opposing proto-types of activation based on different traditions of liberal and universal welfare.

This symposium aims at facilitating a discussion about theoretical frameworks for an analysis of such change, on the one hand, and a comparative review of causes and consequences of such change in different welfare states, on the other. Different directions and dynamics of reforms are taken into account as well as questions of effects on social cohesion and social inequality.

For further information: http://www.wiso.uni-hamburg.de/index.php?id=7720

Contact:
Patrizia Aurich
Centrum für Globalisierung und Governance,
Fakultät für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Universität Hamburg
Allende-Platz 1, 20146 Hamburg
Tel. +49-40-42838-6396, Fax: +49-40-42838-3545
Mail: patrizia.aurich@uni-hamburg.de