Beyond the European Social Model

Some say the member states of the EU have established a unique blend of economic competitiveness and equality. Others hold the model responsible for a decade and a half of economic decline, with slow growth, high unemployment and social malaise.

The “social model” is at the heart of the debate about the future of the EU. In fact it was directly written into the text of the rejected European Constitution, with Article 3 defining the EU for all time as a “social market economy”.

But what does the idea of a common European Social Model mean anyway? With tax burdens ranging from 52% to 28% of GDP across the EU, and with 25 member states at very different levels of development, with very different cultures, can we really even talk about a common social model?

Beyond the European Social Model answers these questions. We look at both success stories and failures from around Europe and paint a picture of how reforms might work. We argue that the current model is not working, and that the time has come for the EU and its member states to take a different approach, and make a fresh start.