Project description
Social policies for all and social policies for the poor
Universally targeted programmes, such as most old age pensions and healthcare systems, consistently receive high levels of public support. It appears that such policies are more readily accepted than selective programmes, such as means-tested social assistance and housing allowances. However, since the programmes compared differ in terms of design and the groups they target, further research is needed into the social legitimacy of universal vis-à-vis selective welfare. With this in mind, the EU-funded UNI-SEL project will explore cross-national, experimental and longitudinal data to identify under which circumstances (when, where and why) one social policy design option is more popular than the other. The findings will benefit the design of the future welfare state.
Objective
Throughout the years, it has become conventional wisdom in social policy literature that universal policies, accessible to all citizens/residents, enjoy higher levels of popular support than selective policies targeted at the poor only. At first sight, the empirical evidence in support of this claim seems convincing. A large number of public opinion studies, conducted in different countries and different years, reveal the same pattern: universally targeted programs, such as most old-age pensions and healthcare systems, consistently receive higher levels of support than selective programs, such as means-tested social assistance and housing allowances. There are, however, two very good reasons why we need further research into the social legitimacy of universal vis-à-vis selective welfare. First, the studies that are typically cited to support the claim that universalism is more popular are inconclusive, because they conflate the institutional design of welfare programs with their respective target groups: the programs that are compared differ not only in terms of their design, but also in terms of the groups they target. Second, there appears to be considerable variation in public support for universalism and selectivism across countries, time, and policy domains. Therefore, the social legitimacy of universal vis-à-vis selective welfare provision remains very much an open question for future research to explore. Based on a unique combination of cross-national, experimental and longitudinal data, this project will reveal under which circumstances -when, where and why- one social policy design option is more popular than the other. In doing so, it makes a vital contribution to ongoing academic and political debates on the institutional design of the future welfare state.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
5037 AB Tilburg
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.