From the Manpower Revolution to the Activation Paradigm: Explaining Institutional Continuity and Change in an Integrating Europe (Amsterdam University Press - Changing Welfare States)

This illuminating book examines the origins and evolution of labor market policy in Western Europe in three phases: a manpower revolution during the 1960s and 1970s; a phase of international disagreement about the causes of and remedies for unemployment, which triggered a variety of policy responses in the late 1970s and 1980s; and, finally, the emergence of an activation paradigm in the late 1990s, the influence of which continues to reverberate today. J. Timo Weishaupt contends that the evolution of labor market policy is determined not only by historical trajectories or coalitional struggles, but also by policy makers’ changing normative and cognitive beliefs. Including case studies of Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, this study will be of value to anyone interested in labor market policy and its governance. This Book Examines The Origins And Evolution Of Labor Market Policy In Western Europe, While Paying Close Attention To The Oecd And The European Union As Proliferators Of New Ideas. Three Phases Are Identified: (a) A Manpower Revolution Phase During The 1960s And 1970s, When Most European Governments Emulated Swedish Manpower Policies And Introduced/modernized Their Public Employment Services; (b) A Phase Of International Disagreement About The Root Causes Of, And Remedies For, Unemployment, Triggering A Diversity Of Policy Responses During The Late 1970s And 1980s; And (c) The Emergence Of An Activation Paradigm Since The Late 1990s, Causing A Process Of Institutional Hybridization. The Book's Main Contention Is That The Evolution Of Labor Market Policy Is Not Only Determined By Historical Trajectories Or Coalitional Struggles, But Also By Policy Makers' Changing Normative And Cognitive Beliefs. The Cases Studied Include Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, And The United Kingdom. Pt. 1. Origin And Crisis Of European Labour Market Policy Regimes -- Pt. 2. The Emergence Of The Activation Paradigm. J. Timo Weishaupt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 341-385) And Index. This book examines the origins and evolution of labor market policy in Western Europe, while paying close attention to the oeCD and the European Union as proliferators of new ideas. Three phases are identified: (a) a manpower revolution phase during the 1960s and 1970s, when most European governments emulated Swedish manpower policies and introduced/modernized their public employment services; (b) a phase of international disagreement about the root causes of, and remedies for, unemployment, triggering a diversity of policy responses during the late 1970s and 1980s; and (c) the emergence of an activation paradigm since the late 1990s, causing a process of institutional hybridization. The book's main contention is that the evolution of labor market policy is not only determined by historical trajectories or coalitional struggles, but also by policy makers' changing normative and cognitive beliefs. The cases studied include Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. This title can be previewed in Google Books - http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9789089642523. This title is available in the OAPEN Library - http://www.oapen.org Table of Contents......Page 6 List of Boxes, Figures and Tables......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 14 Acknowledgements......Page 20 I Introduction......Page 22 II Theoretical Approach......Page 36 Part I Origin and Crisis of European Labour Market Policy Regimes......Page 72 III Origin of European Labour Market Policy Regimesand the Manpower Revolution......Page 74 IV Labour Market Policy Regimes in Crisis: Divergence into Three Distinct Clusters......Page 106 Part II The Emergence of the Activation Paradigm......Page 150 V The OECD’s Repeated Reassessments and the EU as aProliferator of New Ideas......Page 152 VI The Emergence of the Activation Paradigm: Analysing Institutional Hybridisation......Page 194 VII Explaining Transformative Change in Two Crucial Cases......Page 254 VIII Conclusion......Page 296 List of Interviews and Personal Conversations......Page 316 Notes......Page 322 List of Interviews and Personal Conversations......Page 340 Bibliography......Page 342 Index......Page 388 Abstract: This book examines the origins and evolution of labor market policy in Western Europe, while paying close attention to the OECD and the European Union as proliferators of new ideas. Three phases are identified: (a) a manpower revolution phase during the 1960s and 1970s, when most European governments emulated Swedish manpower policies and introduced/modernized their public employment services; (b) a phase of international disagreement about the root causes of, and remedies for, unemployment, triggering a diversity of policy responses during the late 1970s and 1980s; and (c) the emergence of an activation paradigm since the late 1990s, causing a process of institutional hybridization. The book's main contention is that the evolution of labor market policy is not only determined by historical trajectories or coalitional struggles, but also by policy makers' changing normative and cognitive beliefs. The cases studied include Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and the United K

Provides critical insights into the development of innovation policy