Subsidiarity and social citizenship : social assistance schemes in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway

Abstract: Previous research has emphasised that conditionality impinges on social citizenship. However, a systematic assessment examining the impact of functional and territorial subsidiarity has been overlooked. Developing seven operational criteria rights, means testing, conditionality, voice and choice, discretion, benefit's adequacy and supplementary system we determined levels of subsidiarity and social citizenship in social assistance schemes. Analysing the benefit reform trajectories of Austria, Belgium, Norway and Switzerland, we conclude that social assistance schemes have not improve... Mehr ...