Social investment in the balance

Abstract

A quiet social investment (r)evolution is underway. Over the past two decades, national and EU policy makers, think-tanks, and economic and social scientists have articulated a ‘social investment’ welfare state edifice for the 21st century. In 2013, the European Commission published its most assertive endorsement, the Social Investment Package for Growth and Social Cohesion. More recently at the Social Summit in Gothenborg in November 2017, the heads of state introduced the European Pillar of Social Rights, setting key principles for resilient and fair welfare states and labour markets, many of which are related to social investments in early childhood, activation support, gender equality and work-life balance provision. Meanwhile, a growing number of EU member states have pursued social investment reforms with good outcomes on growth, employment and equity. For the panel, we take stock of the emergence, functional merits and political pitfalls of social investment reform, including its relevance for 21st century E(M)U integration.