Author: Social Policy Blog

When Coordination Fails, Citizens Pay the Price: Lessons from Spain’s Long-Term Care System

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Illustration of a confused elderly man surrounded by scattered puzzle pieces and a question mark, symbolising the fragmented coordination of Spain's long-term care system.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy by Jorge Hernández-Moreno. In Spain, more than 1.5 million people rely on public support to live with dignity – people who cannot dress, eat, or move around without help. Since 2006, the state has formally recognised their… Continue reading When Coordination Fails, Citizens Pay the Price: Lessons from Spain’s Long-Term Care System

Basic Income Experiments: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why Politics Still Matters

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Illustration of a gold coin marked "U" raining down from a cloud onto a group of people, with money flowing through a network to smartphones and a data server, representing the distribution of universal basic income.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy by Enrico Nichelatti, Heikki Hiilamo, and Olavi Kangas. Universal Basic Income (UBI) has become one of the most debated social policy ideas of our time. Proponents argue it can reduce poverty, strengthen economic security, and help workers… Continue reading Basic Income Experiments: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why Politics Still Matters

Who Bears the Burden? Tax Fairness and Welfare Coalitions in South Korea

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Illustration of a person straining to lift a house above their head, symbolising the weight of property ownership and tax burden.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of Social Policy by Jongmin Yang. When South Korea's government floated proposals to reform inheritance tax in early 2025, the backlash was immediate – and deeply personal. For many households, the debate was never really about tax rates. It was about whether the… Continue reading Who Bears the Burden? Tax Fairness and Welfare Coalitions in South Korea

Carefully Capacitating? Rethinking Activation for Lone Mothers in Ireland

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A mother drinks coffee while holding her baby, who reaches for a laptop keyboard, with paperwork on the kitchen counter beside them.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy by Joe Whelan and Fiona Dukelow. Ireland’s welfare state is often described as moving towards a more “social investment” model – one that seeks to build people’s skills, strengthen their participation in the labour market, and support… Continue reading Carefully Capacitating? Rethinking Activation for Lone Mothers in Ireland

What are the premises and challenges of the homestay policy in supporting displaced migrants?

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A smiling man opens the front door of his home to welcome two women visitors.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy by Aleksandra Grzymala-Kazlowska, Jenny Phillimore, and Marisol Reyes Soto. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many European citizens opened their homes to displaced Ukrainians. Homestay rapidly became one of the principal mechanisms for housing refugees,… Continue reading What are the premises and challenges of the homestay policy in supporting displaced migrants?