S. Klosse

The Healthy Primary School of the Future: study protocol of a quasi-experimental study

BackgroundUnhealthy lifestyles in early childhood are a major global health challenge. These lifestyles often persist from generation to generation and contribute to a vicious cycle of health-related and social problems. This design article presents a study evaluating the effects of two novel healthy school interventions. The main outcome measure will be changes in children’s body mass index (BMI). In addition, lifestyle behaviours, academic achievement, child well-being, socio-economic differences, and societal costs will be examined.MethodsIn close collaboration with various stakeholders, a quasi-experimental study was developed, for which children of four intervention schools (nu2009=u20091200) in the southern part of the Netherlands are compared with children of four control schools (nu2009=u20091200) in the same region. The interventions started in November 2015. In two of the four intervention schools, a whole-school approach named ‘The Healthy Primary School of the Future’, is implemented with the aim of improving physical activity and dietary behaviour. For this intervention, pupils are offered an extended curriculum, including a healthy lunch, more physical exercises, and social and educational activities, next to the regular school curriculum. In the two other intervention schools, a physical-activity school approach called ‘The Physical Activity School’, is implemented, which is essentially similar to the other intervention, except that no lunch is provided. The interventions proceed during a period of 4 years. Apart from the effectiveness of both interventions, the process, the cost-effectiveness, and the expected legal implications are studied. Data collection is conducted within the school system. The baseline measurements started in September 2015 and yearly follow-up measurements are taking place until 2019.DiscussionA whole-school approach is a new concept in the Netherlands. Due to its innovative, multifaceted nature and sound scientific foundation, these integrated programmes have the potential to form a template for primary schools worldwide. The effects of this approach may extend further than the outcomes associated with well-being and academic achievement, potentially impacting legal and cultural aspects in our society.Trial registrationThe study protocol was registered in the database ClinicalTrials.gov on 14-06-2016 with the reference number NCT02800616.

EU Governance of Economic and Social Policies: Chances and Challenges for Social Europe

This article aims at establishing to what extent the renewed EU economic and social policy coordination cycles offer opportunities to uphold and further develop the Union’s social objectives.First, it seeks to examine to what extent the legal frameworks in which macroeconomic and social policies operate may safeguard a balance between macroeconomic and social concerns (part II). Next, it explores the extent to which policy cycles take into account social aims and targets. For this purpose the National Reform Programmes, Stability and Convergence Programmes and the country-specific recommendations, addressed in 2011 and 2012 to the Netherlands and Germany, will be put to the test (part III). The analysis will focus on policy responses to Guideline No 10 of the Integrated Europe 2020 Guidelines. This Guideline was newly introduced in 2010 in order to ensure that employment and macroeconomic policies are compatible with the objective to combat poverty and social exclusion, one of the core objectives of the Union’s social policy. Lastly, the analysis will lead to some concluding remarks (part IV).

Curbing the Labor Market Divide by fostering Inclusive Labor Markets through a Job Guarantee Scheme

Globalization, demographic trends and technological developments pose important challenges to European labor markets: job quality has deteriorated and precariousness has increased. Austerity measures enforced after the financial crisis have aggravated this trend. We argue that there is a case for appropriate active inclusion policies, complemented by stimulating macroeconomic policies. Using descriptive statistics and a systematic review of the literature, we propose to experiment with Job Guarantee (JG) projects. These projects could provide a macroeconomic stimulus to the economy by enabling everybody who is willing to work to take up a JG job at the minimum wage. Job guarantee projects are not a panacea to all evils. But experience shows that they could help to stop the casualization of the labor market by providing quality jobs and sustainable employment opportunities. As such, JG projects could foster inclusive labor markets. The projects should be financed by redirecting social security (administration) funds, by including JG elements in the European Investment Plan and by using part of the €80 billion which the European Central Bank (ECB) is injecting each month in the euro area. Our proposal aims to curb the labor market divide by making labor markets more “inclusive” through a solid Job Guarantee scheme. JEL codes: J48; E6; J21; J68

The changing legal context of employment policy coordination : How do Social Policy Issues Fare after the Crisis?

Looking at the 2013 country-specific Recommendations, this article explores which legal instruments are used to coordinate employment and social policy items after the crisis. This includes instruments belonging to employment and social policy coordination, as well as to budgetary and economic governance cycles. The article answers the question whether the joint use of these instruments affect the Unions employment and social policy goals. The analysis reveals that employment and social policy items frequently feature in budgetary and economic governance cycles, such as the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) and the Macro-economic Imbalances Procedure. Examples of such topics are health care, pension schemes and wage development. Yet, the impact on the Unions social goals shows a mixed picture, with certain Recommendations supporting social policies, while other Recommendations tending to address social issues from an economic perspective.

Solidarity in Insuring Financial Risks of Illness: A Comparison of the Impact of Dutch Policy Reforms in Health Insurance and Disability Insurance since the 1980s

Abstract Solidarity is the “moral infrastructure” of social insurance arrangements that protect citizens against financial risks of illness: costs of medical care (health insurance) and loss of income (disability insurance). Although these arrangements have both met reforms, the effects of these reforms on the two forms of insurance have not yet been compared. This article presents a comparative analysis of these reforms’ impact on solidarity since the 1980s in the Netherlands. It develops an analytical framework, distinguishing coverage and financing dimensions, and concludes that the reforms affected several solidarity dimensions and that the effects were partly different in health insurance and disability insurance.

Erratum to: The Healthy Primary School of the Future: study protocol of a quasi- experimental study

Following publication of this article [1], it has come to our attention that some of the terminology used in the article could be difficult to interpret.

NEETs - Can the Dutch meet their needs?

Young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) face high risks of social exclusion. At the same time there is little systematic information about the composition of the NEET group and particular social policies that could support them in their transitions towards work or education. This article argues that policy makers and service providers need to put serious efforts in knowing who the (potential) NEETs are and what kind of support they need. Wrongly targeted interventions may result in groups of NEETs disappearing from ‘the radar’ and hamper successful school-to-work transitions. The gap between school and work is likely to become wider in volatile labour markets where flexibility is a dominant feature. This poses new challenges to older age group who have just entered the labour market. These challenges will be aggravated in the context of austerity measures in the social welfare system. The article gives detailed information about the Dutch NEET group and related policies. It demonstrates that whereas NEET rates in the Netherlands are low, Dutch policies are not always accurate. Policies especially focus on the school-age group, leaving young people who struggle to make successful first steps into the labour market, relatively unattended.