Social state as a stratification system of sustainable and inclusive growth

Economic Annals-XXI: Volume 133, Issue 9-10(1), Pages: 23-26

Citation information:
Stanek, V. (2013). Social state as a stratification system of sustainable and inclusive growth. Economic Annals-XXI, 9-10(1), 23-26. https://ea21journal.world/index.php/ea-v133-06/

Vojtech Stanek
PhD (Economics),
Professor,
School of Economics and Management in Public Administration in Bratislava
16 Furdekova St, Bratislava 5, 851 04, Slovak Republic
vojtech.stanek@vsemvs.sk

Social state as a stratification system of sustainable and inclusive growth

Abstract. The purpose of the EU is to enable citizens to enhance their prosperity, solidarity and security in an era of globalisation. This can be achieved through the Common Reference Framework and a common understanding of the probable impact of the big social challenges we face. The welfare state is thus an important part of the modern world; and then an own perception of changes in social policy depends on preferable interpretation of current conditions. A social phenomenon exceeds the dimension by metamorphic development. Globalisation and subsequently the economic recession have brought an extremely problematic symptoms and consequences. On the one hand, globalisation liberates from the dictation of scarce resources generates growth and wealth. On the other hand, it deepens inequality, the dehumanization of economy, alienation from nature, and also poverty. It leads to no solidarity and «undermines the legs of social state». It unbalances the categories as state, market, labour, capital, social security and flexibility, competitiveness and solidarity. Conclusion. Even though liberalism has destabilised the pillars of social state, it has never destroyed them. The application of liberalism could not eliminate social state. Social state as a whole needs to be built on minimum 3 logical structures: institutional logic (versus contractual one); the logic of socialisation of wealth and income generation (versus the logic of their competitive and privatisation determination); the logic of a higher social quality of life (versus the logic of risk). There is a social convergence with minimal values needed in the EU as prevention of social damping/life minimum, health services, pensions/and maximum values for the economy to be competitive. It is necessary to maintain the social dimension at current decisive changes in the EU, i.e. social standards respected in the Euro zone, definition of social objectives, coordination of social reforms, macro-economic coordination also considering social indicators, developed social dialogue in the upcoming period.

Keywords: Social State; Social Security; Social Systems; Labour Market; Solidarity

JEL Classification: I30; I31; H53

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Received 23.08.2013