Growth versus Security: Old and New EU Members Quests for a New Economic and Social Model

eu Members Strive For An Economic And Social Policy Model Which Incorporates A Set Of Common Values While Maintaining Economic Competitiveness. This Book Explores How New Members Look To The Us Model, And How Older Members Use Other's Experiences To Reshape Their Own Economies. Contents......Page 6 List of Tables, Figures and Boxes......Page 8 Foreword......Page 11 Preface......Page 13 Notes on the Contributors......Page 15 PART I: THE CREATION AND REFORM OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEMS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL......Page 18 1 Lessons from Sweden's Welfare State: An American–Swedish Perspective......Page 20 2 Flexicurity in Denmark: A Model for Labour Market Reforms in the EU?......Page 50 3 Slovakia: A Story of Reforms......Page 71 4 The Czech Socio-Economic Model and Its Evolution from the Start of Transition to 2007......Page 106 5 Institutional Transplants in the Transformation of Poland's Economy and Polity......Page 133 6 The European Union and the New Member States' Dilemmas: The Case of Poland......Page 153 PART II: ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SECURITY IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE......Page 174 7 New Challenges for the European Model and How to Cope with It......Page 176 8 Beyond Models and Regulations: Eastward Expansion versus Retrenchment in the 'New' EU?......Page 195 9 Economic Freedom, Confidence and Growth......Page 217 PART III: KEY FACTORS IN THE SEARCH FOR GROWTH AND SECURITY......Page 226 10 Public Finances and Structural Reforms in the US and the EU: Lessons for the New Member States......Page 228 11 Competition and Solidarity in Higher Education – A Reform Proposal Aiming at Improving Quality and Enhancing Security: The Case of Hungary......Page 256 12 Growth versus Security: Choice and the Generational Difference in Preferences......Page 269 13 In Search of a Perfect Regulatory System......Page 277 Conclusions......Page 296 L......Page 298 W......Page 299 European Union member states have always sought to share a common vision of an economic and social model that would be a blueprint for all states to follow, and one that would make Europe both prosperous and different from other parts of the world. For many European countries this blueprint has traditionally been the European Social Model. This is a system based on a high level of social protection, social dialogue and public services to cover activities vital for social cohesion. Economic and political developments since the 1990s have made the blueprint less clear and attractive. The crisis in the Western European welfare state and the economic reforms stemming from this crisis have led to changes in the economic and social models of the EU member states, giving rise to a debate on the viability of the European Social Model. This issue has become increasingly complex and dynamic following successive eastern enlargements of the Union. This book examines whether the recent economic, social and political developments in the European Union and its member states require the Union to revise its belief that Europe can effectively compete with the United States and the emerging economies. This volume brings together a wide range of policy experts from both old and new European Union member states, as well as from the United States, and presents their insights, observations and research on this key issue. This book is an essential companion for all interested in the debate surrounding the future of economic and social models in Europe. -- Back cover