Cristina Neesham, PhD, Department of Management, Monash University, 249 Hampton Street, Hampton, 3188, Australia and Ileana Tache, Ph.D., Faculty of Economic Sciences, "Transilvania" University of Brasov, B-dul Eroilor no. 29, Brasov, 500036, Romania.
(1) Title:
Is there a East European Social Model? A Comparative Study
(2) Objectives:
This paper explores the key elements of European thought and practice which define four models of integrating market driven economic policies with social justice driven welfare policies in culturally distinct areas of the EU (the Scandinavian/Nordic, the Anglo-Saxon, the Continental and the Mediterranean). It focuses on providing a synopsis of the empirical data available on EU regional economic and social performance, as well as drawing normative conclusions on the feasibility of social models.
(3) Data/Methods:
The study identifies the key coordinates of economic performance as related to social welfare performance in the East European area of the EU and compares these with corresponding performance in the other four EU areas. This comparative analysis is based on current EU and East-European economic and social performance data sources for the last 5 years.
(4) Results/Expected Results:
The paper advances the hypothesis that, while distinctive features of economic and social policy in Eastern Europe clearly exist, it is perhaps too soon to conclude that these two sides of policy integrate into a social model at this stage. Nevertheless, further trends or directions for the future development of a East European social model could be identified.