Laurent Gardin

Quasi‐marketisation in domiciliary care: varied patterns, similar problems?

Purpose – This paper seeks to explore various types of quasi‐market governance in domiciliary elderly care with an interest in both the institutional variety of these governance arrangements and their assumable consequences, against the twofold background of the EU care policy agenda and the Nordic experience.Design/methodology/approach – Based on evidence from four Western European countries, the paper examines how recent reforms have changed the provision of domiciliary care, including the shape of vertical and horizontal governance arrangements. Moreover, summarizing results of previous research and drawing on theoretical reflections rooted both in economics and sociology, the paper discusses the wider impact of these reforms.Findings – The analysis points to country‐specific limitations of the quasi‐market approach regarding issues such as the work‐life balance of carers and the access to adequate services.Originality/value – By combining different scientific approaches and exploring several instituti...

Le iniziative locali. Realtà europee e insegnamenti trasversali

In the last decade the Union European policies devoted a growing interest for local development promoted by civil society. Based on dense social networks, the so called local initiatives shape a public space of proximity which can be seen as an example of local democracy carried out by means of economic activities. In order to be effective, local initiatives ask for a definition of suitable game rules with regard to local partnership, investments, training, institutional and financial support. The forms of Institutionalisation of local initiatives are also discussed.