The Politics of Minimum Income Reform in Spain: Explaining an Unexpected and Consensus-Based Path Departure

Illustration of policymakers seated around a circular table reviewing documents, representing negotiation and consensus-building in social policy.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of Social Policy by Llorenç Soler-Buades. The Puzzle of Consensus in Fragmented Systems Under what political and institutional conditions can inclusive social policies secure consensus amid ideological and territorial fragmentation? Spain illustrates this puzzle. For decades, Spain operated a minimum income system that… Continue reading The Politics of Minimum Income Reform in Spain: Explaining an Unexpected and Consensus-Based Path Departure

Rethinking Welfare: Recognising Contributions and Reducing Stigma

Woman with a child meeting a welfare advisor at a desk, discussing paperwork related to social assistance.

This blog post is based on an article published in Social Policy and Society by Amber Vellinga-Dings, Nardi Steverink, Başak Bilecen, and Melissa Sebrechts. “Now I’m going to be one of those lazy welfare recipients – how did this happen?” That thought ran through the mind of a single mother of three young children when… Continue reading Rethinking Welfare: Recognising Contributions and Reducing Stigma

What Happens When the Bottom of the Pyramid Meets Social Assistance?

Illustration of a smartphone handing coins into an open hand, symbolising digital cash transfers, financial inclusion, and the role of financial systems in social assistance.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy by Marion Ouma and Jimi Adesina. How does the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) model change or reorient social assistance in the context of cash transfers? We explore this question in our recent article by examining the… Continue reading What Happens When the Bottom of the Pyramid Meets Social Assistance?

Why Territory Matters for Solidarity: Evidence from Taiwan’s Pension Reform

Illustration of people connected through shared social and welfare institutions, symbolising solidarity and collective responsibility

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of Social Policy by Wei-Ting Yen and Ming-Jui Yeh. Our recent article, published in the Journal of Social Policy, untangles the complexity of solidarity underpinning welfare systems and examines how territorial state identity shapes it in ways distinct from national identity and nationalist… Continue reading Why Territory Matters for Solidarity: Evidence from Taiwan’s Pension Reform