Advancing the structure-in-evolution approach: the case of social policy development in Denmark

ABSTRACT

The structure-in-evolution approach has been proposed as a unified model of change in policy and institutional systems but heretofore has not been applied empirically. This article provides a first such application through an empirical case study of social policy development in Denmark, a country often referenced as its model environment. The case is constructed around a historical account of the country’s employment and social policies and institutions, and a systematic analysis of sequences and regularities in their evolution. Evolutionary patterns representing the structure and dynamics of change were identified both in the broader context of welfare policy development and at lower levels of abstraction, adding further support to this unified analysis and providing a valuable alternative to the conventional understandings of change in policy.

KEYWORDS:

• Evolutionary policy
• evolutionary analysis
• complexity policy
• policy change
• patterns of evolution
• TRIZ‌

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 There are two kinds of recalibration. The first is flexicurity, a solution rebalancing flexibility and security combined with employability enhancements. The other is welfare readjustment, where the traditionally high income protection afforded to market insiders is decreased in favour of increasing the support of labour market outsiders usually dependent on means-tested benefits.

2 Replacement of one or more subsystems thus constitutes an incremental, path-dependent change, while the replacement of a system results in an abrupt, punctuated change.

3 Eventually, this is hoped to include the policy analog of the Lines of Evolution (Clarke 2000), an enumeration of evolutionary steps associated with each pattern, extending our capacity in analysis and design of public policy.

4 This is with regards to material available in the English language.

5 To be sure, if the focus were on the analysis of institutional developments, a different organization may be chosen, not the least as institutional changes do not necessarily coincide with reforms in policy.

6 It allows for greater control over the outcomes of upskilling, now better tailored to the local needs; the same is true for working time negotiated to fit the needs of both the local firms and the citizens, more of whom can thus participate in the labour markets (Campbell and Pedersen 2007).

7 Local Coordination Committees emerged in 1998 with a goal of enhancing cooperation between the two pillars, forming thus the third institutional pillar of the Danish social policy (Etherington and Andersen 2005).

8 The discussion of the three policy regimes is based mainly on Goul Andersen (2002).

9 Which some view as a transition from the Keynesian welfare state to the Schumpeterian workfare regime (Torfing 1999).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Oldrich Bubak

Oldrich Bubak is a policy scholar and author focusing on issues stemming from complexity, interconnectedness, and uncertainty. In his work, he draws on a significant practical and theoretical experience in public policy, systems design and management. The scholar has conducted advanced research in comparative public policy at McMaster University, Canada. He is currently Affiliate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.