Tag: welfare reform

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

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

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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

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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?

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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?