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The EU integration process and the convergence of social protection benefits at national level
Author(s) -
Alsasua Jesús,
BilbaoUbillos Javier,
Olaskoaga Jon
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of social welfare
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1468-2397
pISSN - 1369-6866
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2007.00483.x
Subject(s) - convergence (economics) , european union , european integration , per capita , per capita income , member states , social protection , public economics , economic integration , population , welfare , welfare state , member state , economics , demographic economics , political science , economic growth , international trade , sociology , demography , politics , law , market economy
The essential objective of this article is to measure and interpret the degree of convergence of social protection benefits in European Union member states as the process of European integration has progressed. In this sense, the article analyses the potential role of per capita income and of the socio‐demographic characteristics of the population as explanatory variables for the levels of social protection provision in European countries. The empirical study focuses on the period from 1985 to 1999, and investigates whether differences in welfare provision levels decreased as European integration progressed, in line with the convergence in economic and socio‐demographic variables between member states.