The German Basic Income Support in a jointdecision trap? : Institutional transformation between federalism und centralisation

Abstract

"Nearly three years after its introduction, the German Basic Income Support is facing serious institutional problems. In December 2007, the Federal Constitutional Court declared the so called Arbeitsgemeinschaften (a local joint venture by local agencies of the Public Employment Service and municipal social administrations to create one-stop-shops for needy long term unemployed) for being inconsistent with the Constitution. Thus the idea of delivering employment services from a one-stop-shop and thereby combining the competences of both public service units is challenged. How did it happen? What does is mean? How is that question of local social policy related to general questions of federalism in Germany? The article tries to explain the problems of the institutional transformation and governance of the Basic Income Support with structures of the federal order. It is asking what kinds of political interests have been influencing the process of political decision making." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Kaps, P. (2008): Die Grundsicherung in der Politikverflechtungsfalle? Von den Schwierigkeiten sozialstaatlicher Institutionenreform zwischen Föderalismus und Zentralisierung. In: Der moderne Staat, Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 399-422.