Discussions on policy and management initiatives to facilitate individuals throughout working careers take place without sufficient insight into how career paths are changing, how these changes are related to a modernization of life course biographies, and whether this leads to increased labour market transitions. This paper asks how new, flexible labour market patterns can best be analyzed using an empirical, quantitative approach. The data used are from the career module of the Panel Study of Belgian Households (PSBH). This module, completed by almost 4500 respondents consists of retrospective questions tracing lengthy and even entire working life histories. To establish any changes in career patterns over such extended periods of time, we compare two evolving methodologies: Optimal Matching Analysis (OMA) and Latent Class Regression Analysis (LCA). The analyses demonstrate that both methods show promising potential in discerning working life typologies and analyzing sequence trajectories. However, particularities of the methods demonstrate that not all research questions are suitable for each method. The OMA methodology is appropriate when the analysis concentrates on the labour market statuses and is well equipped to make clear and interpretable differentiations if there is relative stability in career paths during the period of observation but not if careers become less stable. Latent Class has the strength of adopting covariates in the clustering allowing for more historically connected types than the other methodology. The clustering is denser and the technique allows for more detailed model fitting controls than OMA. However, when incorporating covariates in a typology, the possibilities of using the typology in later, causal, analyses is somewhat reduced.
Deze quick scan heeft als centrale vraag hoe er in Europese landen wordt omgegaan met arbeidstoeleiding in de aanpak van schulden. De hypothese die onder deze quick scan ligt is dat de aanpak van schulden belemmerd kan worden door het ontbreken van betaald werk (want doorgaans minder inkomsten). In voorliggend document is uitgewerkt wat de quick scan heeft opgeleverd. Door zowel vanuit de arbeidstoeleiding als vanuit de aanpak van schulden te kijken, heeft UWV een breed inzicht verkregen van hetgeen Nederland kan leren uit de manier waarop andere landen omgaan met de samenloop van financiële problemen en werkloosheid. De opbouw van deze quick scan is als volgt. 1 Schets van de samenhang tussen schuldenproblematiek en re-integratie 2 Omvang van de schuldenproblematiek in relatie tot werkloosheid. 3 Kenmerken van Europese stelsels om schulden op te lossen. 4 Hoe wordt re-integratie ingezet in de verschillende landen? 5 Concluderende overweging Bijlage 1 Enquête die is verstuurd om inzichten te verkrijgen. Bijlage 2 Belangrijkste constateringen per land.
When analysing the legitimacy of the welfare state, perceptions of the overuse and underuse of welfare are of great importance. Previous literature suggests that many people perceive overuse (misuse or fraud), and there is evidence that people also perceive underuse (non-take-up) of welfare benefits. Perceptions of overuse have therefore been called ‘the Achilles’ heel of welfare state legitimacy'. We analyse data from the European Social Survey for 25 countries and investigate the occurrence and the individual and contextual determinants of overuse and underuse perceptions. We find that both overuse and underuse perceptions are prevalent in all European countries. However, whereas overuse perceptions are more related to ideology, collective images of welfare recipients and selective welfare regimes, underuse perceptions are more shaped by self-interest and the levels of unemployment and social spending in a country. Instead of one Achilles' heel, welfare state legitimacy seems to have two weak spots.Key words: Benefit abuse, European Social Survey, non-take-up, welfare attitudes, welfare states
