Suchergebnisse

This report aims at: (a) providing an overview of the European policy framework for health services; (b) providing a comparative analysis of this service market across the EU; and (c) performing a comparative analysis of the situations and trends in the health care sector in the eight RE-InVEST countries, so as to identify the approaches they take to health care. Finally, we provide some policy recommendations, in order to develop a rights-based/capability-oriented approach to health care. This report mixes qualitative and quantitative research methods. First, we analyse the scientific literature and policy documents (especially documents drafted by EU institutions). Second, we perform a quantitative analysis of relevant indicators from a variety of data sets. An analysis of international conventions and EU processes concerning health care allows us to identify the main understandings of this policy domain. First, a 'rights-based' approach can be taken to health care, empha­sising access, affordability and quality of the systems. A second, possible approach is based on the under­standing of health care as a 'productive factor', i.e. a sector potentially able to promote economic growth and competitiveness. This approach is in line with the development of the internal market in health care, and focuses particularly on efficiency and the promotion of preventive care. Third, health care can be seen as a cost factor, in which case particular attention is devoted to the need to preserve fiscal sustainability and enhance the cost-effectiveness of health care systems. The three different EU approaches to health care, as expressed in official documents and statements, are reflected in EU policies related to the health sector, which developed, in particular, from the late 1990s. Firstly, the principles of the EU internal market, aiming to boost economic growth by removing barriers to the free movement of goods, services and persons and encouraging competition between market actors, have been increasingly applied to health ...

This report examines trends in social investment in Italy following the financial crisis of 2007/8. The first section considers social investment in relation to four policy areas: early childhood education and care, housing, financial services and water. The second part of the report provides an overview of social investment and disinvestment trends in the healthcare system in Italy since the 1990s. This section includes a detailed account of service users' and professionals' experiences of the impact of liberalisation and austerity measures on health service delivery drawing on qualitative data collection. Throughout the report we identify policy recommendations to address the effects and impacts of emergent trends towards social disinvestment and liberalisation of public services. This study is part of the wider pan-European RE-InVEST project to investigate the impact of the EU Social Investment package on marginalised groups since the 2007 crisis.

This report examines trends in social investment in England following the financial crisis of 2007/8. The first section considers social investment in relation to four policy arenas: housing, financial services, early childhood education and care, and water. The second part of the report provides an overview of social investment and disinvestment trends in the healthcare system in England since the 1990s with a particular focus on mental health services. This section includes a detailed account of service users' and professionals' experiences of the impact of liberalisation and austerity measures on mental health service delivery drawing on qualitative data collection. Throughout the report we identify policy recommendations to address the effects and impacts of emergent trends towards social disinvestment and liberalisation of public services. This study is part of the wider pan-European RE-InVEST project to investigate the impact of the EU Social Investment package on marginalised groups since the 2007 crisis.

Is Belgium (and Flanders in particular) a 'social investment state'? Belgium is a solid welfare state, with moderate income inequality and generous social expenditure. Never­theless, due to the 'conservative-corporatist' tradition, many services of general interest are actually provided either by local authorities, or by private (mainly not-for-profit) stakeholders, with government subsidies. This has probably led to a better match between the quality of services and the needs of consumers, but also to cream-skimming (e.g. in childcare), exclusion of households that are unable to pay (e.g. in financial services or water provision), shortages (e.g. in housing), and Matthew effects (mainly in housing, but actually in nearly all services). Government intervention has definitely ironed out the worst inequalities (e.g. in water provision or health care) but has never been very proactive in guaranteeing citizens' rights (e.g. through social minimum standards) by law. In the past decades, the redistributive capacity of social protection has come under serious strain since the 1980s: social security benefits have been lagging behind the general welfare trend, resulting in an increasing gap between working and non-working households. Furthermore, since the crisis of 2008, cut­backs have been imposed in nearly all sectors of public expenditure (including the five sectors examined in this report). As one of the most prosperous regions of Europe - and one of the least affected by the crisis, Flanders has been able to continue investing in the last decade (e.g. in water purification, extension of child­care provision and to some extent also social housing). However, the emphasis was put on economic motives (for childcare) and environmental sustainability (housing and water) rather than equity, as the investments went hand in hand with price increases and cutbacks in social tariffs. In addition to the reduced volume of social investment, the latest (right-wing) government is also sys­tematically re-introducing (quasi-)market ...