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Social Union, Convergence and Migration
Author(s) -
SINN HANSWERNER,
OCHEL WOLFGANG
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
jcms: journal of common market studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.54
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1468-5965
pISSN - 0021-9886
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5965.2003.00467.x
Subject(s) - harmonization , convergence (economics) , economics , welfare state , competition (biology) , welfare , payment , european union , social welfare , public economics , development economics , international economics , economic system , market economy , political science , economic growth , ecology , physics , finance , politics , acoustics , law , biology
The forces of the market and systems competition bring about economic and social convergence in Europe, and there is no need for social policies at the EU level. Social harmonization would distort migration flows and slow down the speed of economic convergence. National welfare states will be threatened by the free migration of people in Europe. The race to the bottom is a serious risk. However, to contain this risk, neither harmonization of welfare payments nor constraints on migration are needed. The adoption of the principle of selectively delayed integration is a better alternative.