The Dutch welfare sector is confronted with a process of privatisation. From the foundation of the Dutch welfare state in the late nineteenth century, the distinction between government and market has been object of discussion in the development of the Dutch welfare state. In the first welfare arrangements, the role of the g overnment was subsidiary to that of private initiatives. The churches looked after the poor and the employers and employees developed insurances for employment related risks. Government regulation should not stand in the way of these private initiatives. In other words, the government should only intervene when private initiatives failed.

Discussions regarding the optimal mix between public and private elements in the welfare state play an important role in the design of the Dutch welfare state up until today. Although nowadays the Dutch government is the most important provider of poor relief, private elements are introduced by the privatisation of the reintegration market and employment related risks. The idea behind this process of privatisation is that it makes employers more aware of the costs involved with absence through illness, which induces them to take preventive measures. In other words, the introduction of private elements in the welfare state is believed to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. The shift in balance from government to market does, however, raise questions with regard to the extent to which other public interests are obtained. For example, to what extent is the solidarity between employees with a high and low risk of getting ill guaranteed?

The consequences of the privatisation of the Dutch welfare state for the obtainment of public interests is the object of this research. We have investigated which public interests played a role in the history of the Dutch welfare state and to what extent government regulation was successful in securing these public interests. One of the results of this research is the finding that very often conflicting public interests need to be balanced. Moreover, different public interests prevail over the years. In the early years of the welfare state, safety and independence of the workmen where important public interests. Nowadays the effectiveness and efficiency of public expenses, combined with a high value of equality, dominate government regulation.

Staff

Prof.Dr. G.J. Vonk, LL.M, professor of social security law

Prof.Dr. J. de Ridder, professor of public administration

Prof.Dr W.A. Zondag, LL.M., professor labour law

Dr. M. Plantinga, research fellow 

Dr. A. Tollenaar, LL.M., research fellow

A.D.R. Corra, LL.M., PhD student

A.M.P. Rijpkema, LL.M, PhD student

 This poster gives an idea of the connection between public interests and safeguarding mechanisms.