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Change and Continuity in Welfare States: A qualitative approach to examine the German cash-benefit “Kosten der Heizung und Unterkunft“ from the perspective of Incremental Institutional Change

Demski, Angelika LU (2021) WPMM41 20211
School of Social Work
Abstract
What drives change and continuity in welfare states? This master thesis contributes to the debate by examining the German cash-benefit “Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung”. This cash-benefit is a component of the means-tested unemployment benefit II in Germany which was introduced by the Hartz-IV-Reform in 2005. 16 years later the case “Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung” has undergone no major reforms. But is the cash-benefit really standing still?
With the help of the theory of incremental institutional change and 10 expert interviews at the local level with the so called “rule takers”, two factors (“Institutions as Regimes” and “Third Parties”) driving change and continuity are examined in-depth in the case of the cash-benefit. The... (More)
What drives change and continuity in welfare states? This master thesis contributes to the debate by examining the German cash-benefit “Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung”. This cash-benefit is a component of the means-tested unemployment benefit II in Germany which was introduced by the Hartz-IV-Reform in 2005. 16 years later the case “Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung” has undergone no major reforms. But is the cash-benefit really standing still?
With the help of the theory of incremental institutional change and 10 expert interviews at the local level with the so called “rule takers”, two factors (“Institutions as Regimes” and “Third Parties”) driving change and continuity are examined in-depth in the case of the cash-benefit. The single-case study demonstrates shifts in the characteristics of the institution “Kosten der Heizung und Unterkunft”. These developments contribute to gradual change but at the same time to the continuity of the institution. In addition to this dual consideration of change and continuity, the study results challenge the dichotomy of endogenous and exogenous factors driving change in welfare states. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Demski, Angelika LU
supervisor
organization
course
WPMM41 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
incremental institutional change, Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung, Unemployment Benefit II, Change and Continutity, Welfare State
language
English
id
9064651
date added to LUP
2021-09-06 14:32:18
date last changed
2021-09-06 14:32:18
@misc{9064651,
  abstract     = {{What drives change and continuity in welfare states? This master thesis contributes to the debate by examining the German cash-benefit “Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung”. This cash-benefit is a component of the means-tested unemployment benefit II in Germany which was introduced by the Hartz-IV-Reform in 2005. 16 years later the case “Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung” has undergone no major reforms. But is the cash-benefit really standing still?
With the help of the theory of incremental institutional change and 10 expert interviews at the local level with the so called “rule takers”, two factors (“Institutions as Regimes” and “Third Parties”) driving change and continuity are examined in-depth in the case of the cash-benefit. The single-case study demonstrates shifts in the characteristics of the institution “Kosten der Heizung und Unterkunft”. These developments contribute to gradual change but at the same time to the continuity of the institution. In addition to this dual consideration of change and continuity, the study results challenge the dichotomy of endogenous and exogenous factors driving change in welfare states.}},
  author       = {{Demski, Angelika}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Change and Continuity in Welfare States: A qualitative approach to examine the German cash-benefit “Kosten der Heizung und Unterkunft“ from the perspective of Incremental Institutional Change}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}