Trends and convergence of Europes minimum income schemes

摘要: This paper aims to contribute the debate on whether or not European welfare states converge by assessing trends and patterns of convergence divergence minimum income schemes in period 1992/2001-2012. We expand previous studies social assistance at least three ways. First, this provides a recent detailed overview benefit – detailed, that is, country-by-country. The focus is cross-country variations rather than variation among groups countries are deemed represent different regimes. In addition, our analyses based original data drawn from large network country experts comprising all EU Member States except for Croatia, Cyprus Malta. country-focus as well involvement national informants allows contextualize findings with regard clarify underlying policy measures. Finally covers long time series, starting early 1990s up 2012. find despite marked increase spread schemes, level benefits has remained markedly stable. stability however hides starkly experiences, some laggard showing increases, whereas others continue fall short. Some these pre-crisis gains have evaporated years. substantial number allowed further erosion their levels, especially 1990s, but still evident 2000s.