The impact of activating labor market policies on labor market orientations and institutions

Abstract

"The contribution focuses on the institutional implementation and the individual consequences of activation programs in Germany (often referred to as 'Hartz' reforms) implemented between 2003 and 2005. The new labor market policy is a highly contested topic. The ongoing protest against this policy promotes speculations for further reformations. We approach the topic from the subjective perspective of the job seekers as well as the institutional side. On the basis of regional case studies developed from interviews with different regional experts of labor market policies we conducted a qualitative longitudinal survey of the group targeted by the most recent labor market reforms. We put a particular emphasis on the interrelation between unemployed persons' labor market orientations as well as their strategies of dealing with their position in the labor market, and the 'rights and responsibilities' they are given by the new labor market regulations. We can show that the new activation program doesn't reflect the different types of unemployed people. Instead its standardised procedures show lots of unintended effects such as stigmatisation and social exclusion." (author's abstract)