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This study is concerned with the collective consequences of social rules. The theoretical analyses take as a starting point the notion of new institutionalism' in the social sciences. The analyses focus on the nature and societal role of institutions, and more specifically social security institutions: the rules of relief' that are constructed by the community. Among other things, those institutions lay down the benefit entitlements that people enjoy and the duties that have to be fulfilled in order to enjoy them. The empirical analyses explore some of the effects of modern social security institutions. The central question is which collective outcomes are generated by the social security rules in 11 countries. The analyses first investigate whether the institutions differ from each other to such an extent that the national systems can in practice be said to represent three different types of social security: the liberal, the corporatist and the social-democratic model. J.C. Vrooman is head of the research department on labor, income and social security of the Social and Cultural Planning Office in The Hague (the Netherlands).
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Rules of Relief Rules of Relief_14.indd 1 21-9-2009 15:08:32 Rules of Relief_14.indd 2 21-9-2009 15:08:32 Rules of Relief Institutions of social security, and their impact J.C. Vrooman The Netherlands Institute for Social Research | scp The Hague, September 2009 Rules of Relief_14.indd 3 21-9-2009 15:08:32 The Netherlands Institute for Social Research | scp was established by Royal Decree of March 30, 1973 with the following terms of reference: a. to carry out research designed to produce a coherent picture of the state of social and cultural welfare in the Netherlands and likely developments in this area; b. to contribute to the appropriate selection of policy objectives and to provide an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the various means of achieving those ends; c. to seek information on the way in which interdepartmental policy on social and cultural welfare is i mplemented with a view to assessing its implementation. The work of the Netherlands Institute for Social Research focuses especially on problems coming under the responsibility of more than one Ministry. As Coordinating Minister for social and cultural welfare, the Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport is responsible for the policies pursued by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research. With regard to the main lines of such policies the Minister consults the Ministers of General Affairs; Justice; Interior and Kingdom Relations; Education, Culture and Science; Finance; Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment; Economic Affairs; Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality; and Social Affairs and Employment © J.C. Vrooman and The Netherlands Institute for Social Research | scp, The Hague 2009 scp-publication 2009-11 dtp: Textcetera, The Hague Figures: Information Design Studio, Amsterdam Cover design: Bureau Stijlzorg, Utrecht Cover illustration: Relief Blues (ca 1938), by O.L. Guglielmi (1906-1956). Tempera on fiberboard (61.1 by 76.2 cm.); from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC, usa. With meticulous realism, Guglielmi shows a family gathered around a table in a small New York apartment during the Great Depression. A relief worker fills out forms to determine whether they qualify for a welfare benefit. Guglielmi portrays the unease and despair of those left unemployed, and their attempts to save face and maintain some dignity. The painter applied for relief himself during the early 1930s, before he managed to obtain a meagre stipend through the Works Progress Administration’s ‘Federal Art Project’, a governmentfunded programme which at the time created 5,000 jobs for artists.