The Sustainability of the Welfare State

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainability of the contemporary welfare state has ever been threatened by various internal and external pressures. Slow economic growth and demographic change, i.e. rapid ageing and low fertility, has generated intensive social risks and simultaneously undermined the financial sustainability of the welfare state. Additionally, the rise of far-right political forces and the precariat class has destabilized the social and political sustainability of the welfare state. The impacts of digital transformation and COVID-19 have challenged the effectiveness of existing social policies. Indeed, many welfare states are struggling to protect and empower young people, atypical workers, and the self-employed.

Social insurance and social investment have been crucial policy reform agenda for the last two decades, but it is doubtful how successful the reform effort has been to revive the welfare state. As alternative policy ideas, social innovation and basic income have been actively discussed in politics and academia. Climate change has also increasingly become a crucial topic in the reform of the welfare state.

In this context, this Special Issue explores key concepts, theories, empirical evidence relating to the sustainability of the welfare state. We ask what are real factors to damage the sustainability and what is the direction of social policy reforms to enhance it. In particular, we are keen to welcome new insights and perspectives that seek to bring the staggering welfare state back to life. Special Issue articles could address global, national, and local issues with case-oriented or comparative perspectives

• sustainability
• welfare state
• social policy
• social protection
• social insurance
• social investment
• social innovation
• demographic change
• COVID-19
• labor market
• precariat
• climate change
• fiscal austerity