Read all posts for ‘social contract’

When economic growth is not a given anymore, how can democratically elected governments trigger growth, maintain the welfare state and keep public spending down all at the same time? The answer is easy: they simply can’t. European welfare states have come to a crossroads. On the one hand, private investors […]

I have been mulling over how to frame my thoughts about the ‘relationship trouble’ between the people and the institutions that govern them. On FutureChallenges, Corina Murafa phrased a very interesting perspective; I, however, disagree with her main proposition: “governments, be they local, regional or national, are no better than […]

Young Poles do not seek to redefine their relationship with the state. At least not all of them and not fundamentally. As Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said in an interview with the Wprost weekly in late summer 2010: “(…) Editor: But politicians ought to have more ambitions to change […]

The Future Challenges question of the month asks what citizens can expect from their governments in the future. In all honesty, I think they can only expect as much as they demand. My proposition, and a lesson I’ve learnt from living in Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the United States, […]

It was pretty delightful, the time we spent together was indescribable. Mr Welfare had really committed, promised me that he was there to support me describing himself as “responsible for the development of service delivery policy and provides access to social, health and other payments and services.” So I thought, […]