Український соціум (Dec 2023)
The current dimension of social policy in the EU countries as a guideline for reforms in Ukraine
Abstract
The article presents modern approaches to measuring and possibly conducting a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of social policy in individual countries with the help of global and regional special indicator systems and global indices of well-being and social progress. It is emphasized that in the modern world, the scenarios of increasing social polarization, inequality and poverty of human development both within and between countries are currently being realized, as well as those associated with the contraction of public welfare, violation of social, labour and environmental standards, and reduction of the quality of social rights. The author identifies and briefly characterizes the main indicator systems for measurement and comparative analysis of the effectiveness of social policies in the EU member states, particularly the EU statistics on incomes and living conditions (EU-SILC) and the European pillar of social rights. The effectiveness of the social policy of the EU member states is analyzed by the indicators of “Median equalized net income per household member” and “Risk of poverty and social exclusion”, which make it possible to determine convergent and divergent trends in their growth. It is confirmed that two main trends are observed in the convergence processes: actual convergence (EU member states are becoming more similar); and an upward trajectory of living and working conditions, which improves the overall EU value. Recommendations are formulated regarding the need to reform Ukraine’s social policy and its statistical support as a candidate country for joining the European Union under the current EU regulatory environment. The assessment of the dynamics of the welfare indicators for EU and Ukraine populations according to the components of the Legatum Prosperity Index, which relates to the social sphere, proves the need for reforms and the development of measures to improve the living conditions and health of Ukraine’s population.
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