Sickness and Disability Benefit Programmes: What is Driving Policy Convergence?
21 Pages Posted: 28 Oct 2009
Abstract
In this paper we explore the reasons for the apparent convergence in sickness and disability policies across the OECD, asking whether and to what extent policy convergence should be seen as a product of policy learning. We conclude that convergence is the result of policy imitation more than policy learning and that learning (from past mistakes) is more likely within countries than across borders. Given limited evidence on what really “works”, when it comes to designing policies that both provide adequate income security and still encourage labour-force participation, governments look abroad or to bodies like the OECD for possible models and ideas to underlie a reform. However, translating those ideas into workable policies requires great sensitivity to the institutional and political-economic context — especially the role of the social partners and the nature of policies in existence. When it comes to policy implementation, such contextual learning may be crucial.
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?
Recommended Papers
-
Social Interaction and Sickness Absence
By Assar Lindbeck, Marten Palme, ...
-
A Model of Income Insurance and Social Norms
By Assar Lindbeck and Mats Persson
-
By Werner Eichhorst and Ole Wintermann