Stuck in Routines? The Interaction Between Social Assistance and Unemployment Insurance

Sammanfattning: There are many unemployed in Sweden that do not qualify for unemployment insurance and instead are referred to social assistance. In 2011 the Swedish Department of Finance issued a report suggesting changes to the current system. The proposed changes would make it easier for the unemployed to qualify for unemployment insurance. This study aims to investigate why the interaction between social assistance and unemployment insurance has remained the same despite official critique. The study has a combined approach with document analysis and five semi-structured interviews. The findings are paired together with incremental institutional theory that emphasizes that change can develop in more incremental ways and through Michael Foucault’s concepts concerning power relations. The study found that social assistance’s original purpose has changed over time whereas the purpose of unemployment insurance has not. Regarding reforms to change the interaction between social assistance and unemployment insurance, various actors have different interests. The difficulties to change the interaction have various explanations. The interaction can be understood in terms of being path-dependent and that there has to be some type of external shock to spur change. The environmental surroundings, such as the neighboring policies, have an impact on the interaction. The political will for systematic change plays an important role. A systematic change would imply more costs for the state. Considering power relations, there are some that would want to change the interaction, however, it can be argued that they have too little power and resources in relation to those opposing formal systematic change.