Full Description
In many countries regional and local authorities are given more powers in the field of social security. Supposedly, this is a general trend taking place throughout the developed world and beyond. In this volume the processes of devolution and decentralisation in social security are researched from a comparative European perspective, taking into account the constitutional setting and the architecture of the social security systems. The book includes thirteen country studies based on a uniform format and three overarching contributions.
The greater picture that emerges is that social insurance and family allowances are still very much a national competence and are predominantly functionally decentralised to a number of specialised agencies and institutions. There are only limited exceptions. A different conclusion must be drawn when we look at social assistance and social care. In many countries the role of local authorities has gradually increased over a longer period. However, in some countries this trend is reversing, and municipal powers are being limited or even taken back by central government.
Devolution and Decentralisation in Social Security shows how complex, differentiated and nationally diverse the state of devolution and decentralisation in Europe actually is. This book is of particular interest to scholars in the field of social policy and social security, constitutionalists and policy makers who are interested in local administration.
Contents
Part I General background; The state of devolution and decentralisation in social security, a comparative European analysis: an introduction to this edited volume (Paul Schoukens & Gijsbert Vonk); Federalism and devolution in social security (Danny Pieters); Sharing power with employers and employees: a tried and proven form of functional decentralisation in Europe (Ulrich Becker); Part II Country reports; Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Austria (Verena Zwinger); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Belgium (Jessie De Weyer & Paul Schoukens); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in the Czech Republic (Jakub Tomšej); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Germany (Stephan Rixen); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Hungary (Gábor Juhász); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Italy (Mario Battaglini); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in the Netherlands (Annette Jansen & Gijsbert Vonk); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Slovenia (Luka Mišič & Grega Strban); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Spain (Borja Suárez Corujo); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Sweden (Titti Mattsson & Elin Osbeck); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Switzerland (Thomas Gächter & Thuy Xuan Truong); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in Turkey (Galip Emre Yildirim); Devolution and decentralisation in social security: the situation in the United Kingdom (Guto Ifan & Ed Gareth Poole)
