Category: Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy

Hidden Beneath Aggregated Statistics: Mining Dissent in Nordic COVID-19 Restriction Policies

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Split view of an iceberg at the waterline: a small part rises above the sea under a cloudy sky, while a much larger mass lies hidden beneath the surface in dark blue water.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy by Therese Sefton, Johan Nordensvärd, and Therese Dokken. When crises strike, governments ask people to make sacrifices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, those sacrifices included restrictions on mobility, work, education, and family life. Such measures were difficult for… Continue reading Hidden Beneath Aggregated Statistics: Mining Dissent in Nordic COVID-19 Restriction Policies

What Made Emergency Cash Transfers Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

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Illustration of a smartphone displaying a bank icon, surrounded by a bank card, a coin, an envelope containing a banknote and a rising arrow.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy by Nelson D. Cardozo. The COVID-19 pandemic represented an unprecedented global crisis, affecting not only the health of millions of people but also the economic, social and political stability of countries. Governments adopted various strategies to mitigate… Continue reading What Made Emergency Cash Transfers Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

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

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