Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v8i2.215
The Social Situation and Social Reforma in Slovenia
Borut Rončević
; Fakultet za družbene vede, Univerza v Ljubljani
Sažetak
Slovenia's transition trajectories have so far been somewhat different from those in most other post-socialist countries. This is due to a less sharp discontinuity with the past. Social policy is perhaps the most obvious example; current trends are quite firmly embedded in the logic of the past development of the system, even if they are not a simple continuation of it. Fast privatisation and rapid cuts in welfare spending were not a realistic policy option in the 1990s. Even though we witness trends toward labour market segmentation and increase in poverty and inequality rates, they have mostly been less acute than in other post-socialist countries. The state of reforms of the social security system (health policy and insurance, pension system, employment insurance and other social protection schemes), of education policies and of labour market policies explain why this is the case. Especially as far as the social security system is concerned, one cannot clearly identify any major cuts in entitlements and public spending which could potentially have a serious impact on the social standing of the population – even though the responsibility for one's well-being was shifted to a certain extent from the state to the individual. We can also identify a “hidden” privatisation of the tertiary education, but it still does not impact the ability of young generations to continue their education. In addition, a comprehensive set of labour market policies has been designed to tackle structural unemployment and foster inclusion of the unemployed. Nevertheless, these policy areas are facing numerous problems, which are clearly identified in the article. However, critics of the Slovenian social policy who consider it too expensive are, in view of the developmental relevance of the social dimension, narrow-minded and partial. Having this in mind, the description of Slovenia's social policy as being too passive, inefficient and without a clearly defined strategic role is more accurate.
Ključne riječi
transition; social situation; social policy; reforms; development; Slovenia
Hrčak ID:
30057
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.2.2001.
Posjeta: 4.984 *