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Governance and Politics in the Post-Crisis European Union
  • Edited by Ramona Coman, Amandine Crespy, Vivien A. Schmidt
  • Published online: 31 October 2020
  • Print publication: 27 August 2020
  • The European Union of today cannot be studied as it once was. This original new textbook provides a much-needed update on how the EU's policies and institutions have changed in light of the multiple crises and transformations since 2010. An international team of leading scholars offer systematic accounts on the EU's institutional regime, policies, and its community of people and states. Each chapter is structured to explain the relevant historical developments and institutional framework, presenting the key actors, the current controversies and discussing a paradigmatic case study. Each chapter also provides ideas for group discussions and individual research topics. Moving away from the typical, neutral account of the functioning of the EU, this textbook will stimulate readers' critical thinking towards the EU as it is today. It will serve as a core text for undergraduate and graduate students of politics and European studies taking courses on the politics of the EU, and those taking courses in comparative politics and international organizations including the EU.

  • 10 - Social Policy: Is the EU Doing Enough to Tackle Inequalities?

  • from Part II - Key Policy Areas in Flux
  • Edited by Ramona Coman, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Amandine Crespy, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Vivien A. Schmidt, Boston University
  • Book: Governance and Politics in the Post-Crisis European Union
  • Published online: 31 October 2020
  • Print publication: 27 August 2020, pp 196-216

  • Summary

    The objective of social policy is to limit inequalities in resource distribution within societies. On the one hand, it consists in regulating markets and working conditions; on the other, it uses redistributive mechanisms (i.e. cash transfers and services) to offset contrast in income distribution and tackle poverty. The EU exhibits the lowest level of inequalities compared to countries around the globe, including the United States. However, recent studies also show that, in some respects, the EU falls short of its promise of welfare and social cohesion for all. While general levels of income have been rising continuously over the past decades, inequalities among individuals have only declined slowly. When looking at the Gini coefficient, the most common indicator for measuring inequalities, it appears that the decrease of inequalities has come to a stalemate in the EU-27, with the euro area even displaying an increase of the index since 2008 (while the US has known a sharper increase of inequalities, starting from a significantly higher level). Moreover, the catch-up process of the poorest regions in terms of living standards has not taken place to the expected extent. In some regions of Southern and Eastern Europe or the Baltic countries, the recession has meant a severe degradation of welfare for many people. Today, the EU still exhibits a clear contrast between a wealthy core of Continental and Northern countries versus the poorest peripheries in the south and east of the continent (see chapter 17).

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