Divergence within Convergence; Europeanisation of Social and Employment Policies

With the adoption of the European Employment Strategy and the Lisbon strategy, convergence of social protection goals and labour market policies across EU member states have become important objectives at the European agenda. Embedded in convergence, Europeanisation and welfare state literature, this thesis examines the role of European integration in changing social policies. This study shows that since 1995 social expenditures of EU member states have converged and increased on average, whereas non-EU countries have diverged, controlled for cyclical and demographic effects. This EU-specific convergence pattern of social expenditures leads us to the subsequent question whether national policies also converged. Relying on disaggregated expenditure data and indicators for several policy instruments, I found that labour market policies have become increasingly activating, whereas non-EU countries have not. Although EU member states tend to follow the policies of the European guidelines and recommendations, this thesis provides evidence that some active labour market policy instruments are more eligible to converge than others.