Book review: Devolution and Decentralisation in Social security. A European Comparative Perspective
| Date | 01 March 2021 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1388262721991555 |
| Author | Kristina Koldinská |
| Published date | 01 March 2021 |
| Subject Matter | Book reviews |
written in a methodical, systematic, and transparent manner, which makes it easier to find the
information for which the reader is looking. In addition, the book is well-documented with detailed
references to other research and literature.
This book can, therefore, be warmly recommended as a worthwhile read for those who wish to
understand the challenges of self-employed professionals in general, as well as for those who are
researching a specific topic in the broader debate on self-employment. Moreover, it could also be
useful for scholars and students of various disciplines from sociology, to industrial relations, and to
legal studies and all areas of economic and social research. The book provides an important tool for
all policy-makers at both the European and the national levels, and is an indispensable read for
trade unions and other representative organizations, in addition to its definite contribution to the
academic debate on the issues covered.
ORCID iD
Sara Bagari https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5853-3545
Vonk, G., Schoukens, P. (eds.), Devolution and Decentralisation in Social security. A European
Comparative Perspective, 2020, The Hague, Eleven International Publishing, ISBN 978-94-6236-980-1,
299 pages.
Reviewed by: Kristina Koldinsk´
a,Charles University Prague, Czech Republic
DOI: 10.1177/1388262721991555
The question of the devolution and decentralisation of social security in today’s Europe seems to
be a crucial one. Social security systems are currently facing two enormous historical challenges:
the first is globalisation and digitalisation of work (‘Industry 4.0’); the second is Covid-19 and its
social consequences. Both will probably have an unprecedented impact on European social secu-
rity systems. All European countries will need to enact drastic social reforms. Such reforms will
not only need a deep reflection on the concept of several branches of social security, on the need or
uselessness of some traditional social benefits or on the need to introduce some new benefits,
which would cover new social risks. Moreover, the organisational structure of social secu rity
systems will have to change as well as the administration of social security, which has been in
place, more or less, for 100 years. In debates on structural concepts of such changes, reflections on
devolution and decentralisation of social security will probably play a key role. Having said that,
one can only welcome that a collective monograph on devolution and decentralisation in social
security has been published. It is highly appreciated, that the book provides for a European
comparative perspective, and includes 13 national reports, written by leading researchers in
respective countries.
The monograph is divided in two parts: General Background and Country Reports.
The first part consists of three chapters and provides for an in-depth reflection from three basic
points of view. Schoukens and Vonk, the Editors, sum-up the current state of affairs in reflections
on devolution and decentralisation in social security. They provide some reflections on the
98 European Journal of Social Security 23(1)
To continue reading
Request your trial