Families Facing the Crisis: Is Social Investment a Sustainable Social Policy Strategy?

Operationalising social investment: from policy dimensions to ideal-types

“…On the one hand there is the potential of social investment to underpin a platform for increased social equity and reduced intergenerational poverty (Bothfield & Roualt, 2014;Deeming & Smyth, 2015;Hemerijck, 2011;Nolan, 2013). On the other hand the risk of detrimental consequences such as social security cuts or a 'race-to-thebottom', Matthew-effects and reproducing social stratification (Bothfield & Roualt, 2014;Cantillon, 2011;Nolan, 2013).…”

“…Without reactive measures individuals may under certain circumstances not be able to make use of their capital or worse yet, it may be depleted. For example, income security will most likely affect the level of flexibility of workers (Bothfield & Roualt, 2014;Hemerijck, 2015). Hemerijck (2015) describes reactive policy measures in the realm of social investment as a form of protective buffers during periods of volatility and transition in people's lives.…”

“…This is exemplified in the social investment literature by calls for policy efforts toward skill enhancement and full employment; women entering the labour market, early education and childcare (Bothfield & Roualt, 2014;Cantillon, 2013;Deeming & Smyth, 2015;Hemerijck, 2011;Jenson, 2009;Pintelon, Cantillon, Van den Bosch, & Whelan, 2013). The assumption in social investment literature is that these policies impact and has bearing on one another, making coherence of policies important.…”

Social services in post-industrial Europe: an incomplete success story and its tragic moments

“…The mantra consists of making social services more widespread in fields such as child daycare, services for older people, and work integration, including for people with disabilities (Polacek et al, 2011;Mills et al, 2014;Bouget et al, 2015) -notwithstanding that European institutions can hardly interfere with national legislation. This concern has been at the core of the recent 'social investment' agenda, but also of commitments to ensure social inclusion in ever more fragmented societies (Bothfeld and Rouault, 2015;Van Kersbergen et al, 2014;Marlier et al, 2007). At the same time, European institutions promote distinctive reform models that pertain to the governance of the social service sector; for instance, there are strong voices in favour of exposing non-profit and public undertakings to markets and helping private business access the sector.…”

“…More generally, recent public policies increase efforts in some areas (workfare and early education) while cutting expenditure elsewhere. The social investment agenda of the EU is a supranational expression of this selectivity and prone to create new loopholes within the social service sector (Bothfeld and Rouault, 2015).…”