Abstract
Social peace and productivity are dependent to some extent on decent work including among others access to the labour market, fair pay and secure working conditions. States should therefore stop deregulation of the labour market and guarantee minimal wages on which workers, employees and their families could live on. In addition, fighting discrimination of women and better support for children with problems at school, too, is aside its social goal supportive to gain more qualified workforce, necessary facing the ageing society in Europe. Of course, the most challenging development is the high unemployment, mainly in the peripheries of the EU. Therefore, social policy meets at the same time economic goals. Yet they need adequate financing which is endangered by austerity policies. Yet savings by cuts in welfare expenditures will be out-weighted by the negative impacts of wasting talents, of less number of qualified workforces and the economic effects of minor satisfaction in a not well-functioning welfare state.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
Adam Smith, Theory on moral sentiments, 1759, Part I, Section III, Chapter III, Title.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
European Commission/EACEA/Eurydice, 2013. Funding of Education in Europe 2000–2012: The Impact of the Economic Crisis. Eurydice Report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, p. 7.
- 5.
References
Barroso. (2006). Employment, social security and environmental potential of the Lisbon process, and the role of the commission. ESC-BEE-social platform conference, Brussels, 6 Mar 2006.
Bernanke, B. S. (2008, June 4). Speech at Harvard University.
Eissel, D. (2008). Inequality and poverty as a motor for growth and prosperity? Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 16(1), 9–23.
European Commission. (2003). Employment and social affairs. The Social Inclusion Process, 18 June 2003. www.europa.eu.int.
EU Commission. (2003). Report to the EU Council, 21 March 2003.
EU. (2010). Panorama, inforegio: towards greater social inclusion, Autumn 2010. ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/panora_en.htm.
EU Commission Staff. (2011). Working Document 2012, Progress on equality between women and men in 2011, Brussels, 16 Apr 2012.
Eurostat. (2004). Employment in Europe 2004.
Eurostat. (2011b). Europe in figures, EU Yearbook 2011.
Friedman, M. (1971). Kapitalismus und Freiheit. Stuttgart: Piper.
Guajardo, J., Leigh, D., & Pescatori, A. (2011). IMF Working Paper. Research Department, Expansionary Austerity: New International Evidence (July 2011, abstract).
Heinberg, R. (2011). The end of growth. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers.
Human Development Report 2011.
Jaumotte, F., Lall, S., & Papageorgiou, C. (2008). Rising income inequality: technology, or trade and financial globalization? IMF Working paper WP/08/185, July 2008.
Jones, D. S. (2013). The mythical Adam Smith. Mythbusters, 8, 1 (Tax Justice Focus).
Keynes, J. M. (1936). The general theory of employment, interest and money. London: Macmillan.
Krugman, P., & Helpman, E. (1989). Trade policy and market structures. Chicago: MitPr.
OECD. (2011a). Divided we stand, Paris
OECD. (2011b). Education at a glance 2011.
Rawls, J. (1973). A theory of justice. London: Oxford University Press.
Schettkat, R. (2012). Inequality and employment. Intereconomics.eu, 47, 5, September/October 2012.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Smith, A. (1759). Theory of moral sentiments (new ed. 2002). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland. (2012). Frauen und Männer auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in Deutschland und Europa 2012.
Stiglitz, J. (2010). Freefall. Free markets and the sinking of the global economy. London: Penguin.
Stiglitz, J. E. (2012). The price of inequality. New York/London: W. W. Norton.
Stiglitz, J., Sen, A., & Fitoussi, J.-P. (2009). Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, Paris 2009. www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr/documents/rapport_anglais.pdf.
Vasiliou, V. (2010). Key factors influencing employee motivation. Saarbrücken: LAP (Lambert Academic Publishing).
von Hayek, F. A. (1944). The road to serfdom. University of Chicago: Chicago Press.
Williamson, J. (2003). From reform agenda to damaged brand name. Finance and Development, September 2003, 10–13 (IMF)
Internet
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc2881_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/gender-pay-gap/causes/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/gender-pay-gap/situation-europe/index_en.htm
www.oecd.org/els/social/inequality http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Eißel, D. (2014). Economic Aspects of Fighting Inequality. In: Eißel, D., Rokicka, E., Leaman, J. (eds) Welfare State at Risk. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01481-4_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01481-4_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-01480-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-01481-4
eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsEconomics and Finance (R0)