INTERECONOMICS, Vol 47, No. 4, July/August 2012
Forum: The Welfare State After the Great Recession
By Philippe Pochet, Mathias Dolls, Andreas Peichl, Anton C. Hemerijck, Frank Vandenbroucke, Torben M. Andersen, Christophe Degryse, Gaetano Basso, Werner Eichhorst, Thomas Leoni and Peter Taylor-Gooby
The economic crisis has given rise to significant challenges to the welfare state. Given that welfare expenses account for a large proportion of all state spending in the member countries of the European Union, reducing government spending means cutting welfare measures. Yet social protection, in particular unemployment insurance benefits and minimum income support, has signifi cantly softened the impact of the crisis for millions of individuals. The global recession calls into question the financial viability of current programmes, and the crisis is being used by some as an opportunity to roll back the welfare state permanently. The present Forum discusses challenges to and opportunities for the welfare state after the crisis.
Editorial: The Spanish Financial Sector: Where We Came From, Where Are We Going?
By Raquel Marbán-Flores