Uloga i izdaci socijalne zaštite u gospodarskoj krizi

U radu se propituje uloga socijalne zaštite i socijalnih troškova u financijskim i ekonomskim krizama. Stoga je cilj rada bio istražiti trendove vezane za izdatke socijalne zaštite od početka posljednje ekonomske krize (2008.) u zemljama EU-a, istražiti promjene u strukturi troškova socijalne zaštite u kriznom i postkriznom razdoblju te analizirati učinkovitost programa socijalne zaštite u kriznom i postkriznom razdoblju s aspekta zaštite od siromaštva. Rad potvrđuje da su gotovo sve zemlje EU-a povećale troškove socijalne zaštite od početka krize te da se većina zemalja u krizi oslanja na redistributivne učinke tzv. automatskih stabilizatora. Obrasci kretanja izdataka socijalne zaštite u krizi i postkriznom razdoblju te učinkovitost socijalne zaštite u ublažavanju negativnih učinaka krize povezani su s obilježjima pojedinih modela (režima) socijalne zaštite. Zemlje s većim socijalnim sektorom uspješnije se nose s krizom. Ekonomske, financijske i socijalne krize mogu potaći promjene u socijalnoj zaštiti. Kriza je prigoda da zemlje s nižim troškovima socijalne zaštite prošire obuhvat programa, uvedu nove programe ili povećaju visinu naknada. S obzirom da loše upravljanje krizama samo povećava siromaštvo, nezaposlenost i smanjuje ekonomski rast, važno je definirati ulogu socijalne zaštite/države u okviru strategija upravljanja krizom. Među ostalim, rješenje je u pristupu koji u socijalnim izdacima vidi socijalne investicije koje mogu revitalizirati ulogu socijalne politike u ekonomskom razvoju.The paper examines the role of social protection and social expenditure in the financial and economic crises. Accordingly, the objective of the paper was to analyse the trends in social expenditure developments in EU countries since the beginning of the last economic crisis (2008), examine changes in the composition of social protection spending during and following the crisis, and analyse the effectiveness of social protection schemes during and following the crisis in terms of poverty rate reduction. The paper confirmed that social protection expenditure has increased in almost all EU countries since the beginning of the crisis and that in the crisis most countries rely on redistributive effects of the so-called automatic stabilizers. Social expenditure developments during and following the crisis and the effectiveness of social protection in alleviating consequences of the crisis are related to the features of social protection models (regimes). Countries with larger social sectors are coping with the crisis more successfully. Economic, financial and social crises may induce changes in the social protection system. The crisis is an opportunity for countries with low social expenditure to widen the coverage of social schemes, set up new schemes or increase the level of benefits. As inappropriate crises management models fuel poverty and unemployment, and decrease economic growth, it is important to define the role of social protection/welfare state in a crisis management strategy. Among other things, a solution is to strengthen an approach where social expenditure is seen as social investments which may revitalize the role of social protection in the economic development