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.

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.

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%).

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.

Part-Time Work and the Pay-Gap

While job growth in the European Union from 1991 to 1996 was almost entirely due to an increase in part-time employment, which even compensated for the decrease in full-time employment, this trend has changed with the economic upswing. Since 1997 created employment also includes full-time jobs, and in 1999, for the first time since 1990, the percentage of newly created full-time employment was higher than for part-time employment.  The contribution of part-time contra full-time employment to the change in employment from 1994 to 1999 varies strongly across the European Union.

Flexicurity

Companies, sectors, national governments and, last but not least, the European Union as a whole are currently facing a twofold expectation. On the one hand there is strong demand for further flexibilisation of labour markets, employment and the work organisation, while at same time an equally strong demand exists for providing security to employees, especially vulnerable groups of employees.

Active strategies for older workers

This book sets out to describe how, in nine EU countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands), social partners and governments have been successful in increasing the employment rates of older workers, or have failed to do so. Different paths have been tried out in different countries, some with more success than others. The book highlights good and bad practices in the field of employment, training, social protection and taxation policies. Current policies are evaluated and proposals are made for further successful action. Amongst major reforms discussed, the book refers to the development of systems of partial, phased, progressive or flexible retirement.

Unwrapping the European social model

"Current concerns with achieving the objectives of the LisbonStrategy together with the recent enlargement and widespread debate on the adoption of a new EU constitution have contributed to renewed interest in the sustainability of the European Social Model. This book offers an up-to-date, wide-ranging and detailed analysis of its impact on member states." (Nick Adnett)

(Publisher: The Policy Press)

Demography, Social Cohesion and the Future of the Welfare State

A background paper for the ETUC/ETUI-REHS top-level summer school, Florence, 1-2 July 2005

A lifelong strategy for active ageing

This book, the second in a series, discusses a comprehensive set of measures aimed at increasing the employment rate of older workers. The book's six chapters, and smaller sections of comments, deal with the incentives/disincentives debate, employment and training policies in favour of older workers, the issues of work organisation and reorganisation of working time, the availability of social infrastructures and, last but not least, the question of how to change the attitudes of employers, workers and trade unions with a view to keeping older workers in employment.

Démographie, cohésion sociale et avenir de l'Etat-providence

Documents de travail pour l'Université d'été de la CES/ETUI-REHS des dirigeants syndicaux européens, Florence 1-2 juillet 2005