Background
Deindustrialisation and long-term unemployment pushed European welfare states from passive income support to active policies. Clasen and Clegg (2006) linked this to unemployment protection reform, and activation became central to the social investment state and flexicurity.
Two paths
Dingeldey (2007) separated workfare from enabling paths. Lødemel and Trickey (2001) compared workfare internationally, Barbier and Ludwig-Mayerhofer (2004) showed national variety, and Bonoli (2010) identified four types.
Effects and debates
Meta-analyses by Card and colleagues (2010, 2018) found job-search help works short term, training after two to three years, and public jobs weakly. Critics warn activation may push people into precarious work and deepen dualisation.
FAQ
- What is activation policy in simple terms?
- Instead of only paying benefits, it helps the unemployed back into work with training and job search support.
- Is it the same as workfare?
- Workfare is the compulsory form; activation also includes enabling, training-based approaches.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- Bonoli, G. (2010). The political economy of active labor-market policy. Politics & Society, 38(4), 435–457. Types and politics of ALMP.
- Barbier, J.-C., & Ludwig-Mayerhofer, W. (2004). Introduction: The many worlds of activation. European Societies, 6(4), 423–436. The many worlds of activation.
- Dingeldey, I. (2007). Between workfare and enablement: The different paths to transformation of the welfare state. European Journal of Political Research, 46(6), 823–851. Workfare versus enabling.
- Lødemel, I., & Trickey, H. (Eds.). (2001). 'An offer you can't refuse': Workfare in international perspective. Policy Press. Workfare compared internationally.
- Clasen, J., & Clegg, D. (2006). Beyond activation: Reforming European unemployment protection systems in post-industrial labour markets. European Societies, 8(4), 527–553. Reforming unemployment protection.
- Card, D., Kluve, J., & Weber, A. (2010). Active labour market policy evaluations: A meta-analysis. The Economic Journal, 120(548), F452–F477. A meta-analysis of programmes.
- Card, D., Kluve, J., & Weber, A. (2018). What works? A meta analysis of recent active labor market program evaluations. Journal of the European Economic Association, 16(3), 894–931. Updated meta-analysis.