Projects

Demographic challenges and equal opportunties

Women are key in the discussion on demographic change: not only do they constitute an under-utilised pool of labour to face the labour shortage, but they are also one of the main actors in the provision of the future work-force; thirdly, they are the key providers of both formal and informal care to children and the elderly and, fourthly, they constitute the major part of the older population due to their longer life-expectancy, making them more reliant on welfare provision in the long run. Hence their role is primordial, and yet also fraught with problems. The main problems are linked to the triple bind facing women, as follows: the demand for an increase - and a continuing increase - in their labour market participation; the implicit expectation that they should give birth to more children; and, thirdly, the growing demand, at a later stage in their lives, to care for their grandchildren, as well as for their own parents.

European Economic Integration and Globalisation: Underpinning or Erosion of the European Social Model

Over the past decade the term "European Social Model" has increasingly cropped up in European Commission documents. It is being promoted as a unique European approach to the structure of state-society relations. However, analysts are increasingly challenging the coherence and viability of this model. Two main questions are being raised, the first pertains to the definition of the European Social Model, where it is argued that rather than describing a European reality it is a catchword covering a heterogeneous group of quite different social models. The second question addresses the sustainability of the European Social Model in the face of globalisation and especially European economic integration: how has the ongoing process of European economic integration and globalisation affected (and how will it affect) the scope of and the room for specific welfare state activities. It is this very important question that the project will concentrate on.

European Social Model

The ESM is a key concept for trade unions as it expresses and regroups the various elements which the trade unions defend and promote, e.g. social dialogue, welfare systems etc. The European Social Model is facing a host of challenges which are affecting policy making and the policy choices made on both the European and the national level. These policy choices are in some cases taking a very different departure from previous policy choices and hence there is reason to believe that the ESM as we understand it today will change in a rather profound manner.

Occupational Pension Schemes in Europe: Architecture, Management and Investment Policies

In Europe occupational or supplementary pension schemes are developing very fast in nearly all countries. Between 1998 and 1999 the number of autonomous funds has increased in half of the European Union Member States for which data are available, with the highest growth rate recorded in Spain with 13.2%. Investments have increased in nearly all EU-Member States in the 1998-99 period (by 13% to 20%).

Social dumping and the European social model

In connection with the fact finding analysis based on statistics on productivity levels and wage levels in CEEC-s /(which is missing from all available statistical sources so far), also differentiating according the 'whole economy', 'industry', and 'manufacturing'/ linked to the 'relocation' project, we conduct the analysis further and deepen it with a view to the European Social Model (ESM).

State of Working Europe

Last year saw the first publication of the State of Working Europe, produced in cooperation with two external co-authors (John Morley and Terry Ward). As it has been favourably received, it is agreed that SoWE should become an annual publication that combines rigorous data-based analysis and a normative perspective focussing on the needs and interests of working people. In the light of possible overlaps (and even confusion) with Benchmarking Working Europe, it has been decided to bring out the book for 1 May each year (and not for the Spring Summit as last year).

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