In the last decade, developed welfare states have witnessed a pendulum
swing away from unconditional entitlement to social assistance, towards
greater emphasis on obligations and conditions tied to the receipt of
financial aid. Through administrative reforms, conditions of entitlement
have been narrowed. With the introduction of compulsory work for
recipients the contract between the state and uninsured unemployed
people is changing. The product of research funded by the European
Union, this book compares 'work-for-welfare' - or workfare - programmes
objectively for the first time. It considers well publicised schemes
from the United States alongside more overlooked examples of workfare
programmes from six European countries: France, Germany, the
Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Britain. It is the first time that
details of workfare programmes have been collated in such an easily
accessible format. 'An offer you can't refuse' provides an analysis of
the ideological debates that surround compulsory work programmes and
gives a detailed overview of the programmes implemented in each country,
including their political and policy contexts and the forces that have
combined to facilitate their implementation. Similarities and
differences between programmes are explored. Explanations for
differences and lessons for policy makers are discussed.
