Europe’s social investement turn

What kind of welfare state is effective, legitimate and sustainable in times of demographic ageing and labour market change? 

In recent years, social investment has emerged as the main compass for welfare state policy reform in the European Union.

In their recently published book “Governing the welfare commons“, Hemerijck and Bokhorst argue that social investment allows policymakers to combine inclusive welfare provision with competitiveness and fiscal sustainability. The book traces reform sequences across ten country case studies and the European Union to understand whether EU Member States are also moving towards social investment in practice, arguing that a discernible yet non-linear shift has occurred over time. 

To explain the shift in welfare policies, the book invokes the notion of the welfare commons as a responsibilising policy feedback force on politicians seeking inter- and intragenerational fairness in times of demographic ageing.  

On 18 November, Hemerijck and Bokhorst will present their main findings and discuss their argument with Jeroen Jutte, Nicolas Schmit and László Andor.