Publisher Description

Capitalism in Europe is transformed as a result of liberalisation, privatisation and regulatory reform. Unravelling the state as service provider and employer has posed significant social policy challenges to the emerging regulatory state.The book examines how these challenges have been addressed in different varieties of capitalism and across sectors. It compares change in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, takes stock of the reform movement in Europe and internationally, and discusses policy approaches in telecoms and electricity. It pays special attention to falling mail volumes as a driver of change and a new wave of privatisation triggered by the European sovereign debt crisis. The analysis reveals whether and how social policy goals have been addressed by means of regulation and redistribution. The book explains why liberal market economies have been postal reform latecomers and why the regulatory state benefits consumers, but is likely to leave employees' interests behind. -- .

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Capitalism in Europe has been transformed as a result of liberalisation, privatisation and regulatory reform. Unravelling the state as service provider and employer has posed significant social policy challenges to the emerging regulatory state. This book confronts these challenges, and addresses questions concerning regulation and capitalism: How does the regulatory state protect consumers and employees? Do varieties of capitalism translate into varieties of social regulation?The book examines the transformation of public services in different varieties of capitalism. It compares postal reform in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, takes stock of the postal reform movement in Europe and internationally, and discusses policy approaches in telecoms and electricity. It pays special attention to postal reform deadlock in liberal market economies, falling mail volumes as a driver of change, and a new wave of privatisation triggered by the European sovereign debt crisis.The analysis reveals whether and how social policy goals have been addressed by means of regulation and redistribution. The findings show that redistributive policies form an integral part of regulatory reform, which makes it hard to compensate reform losers in a context of austerity policies. In their regulatory practice, independent agencies integrate consumer protection as a core business, but are reluctant to tackle employment related issues. The delay of liberal regimes in reforming their postal sectors is explained by a limited capacity to accommodate social policy goals.

Author Biography

Sandra Eckert is Assistant Professor of Politics in the European Multilevel System at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Social welfare in the Regulatory State
3. Varieties of regulatory welfare regimes
4. Public service reforms and European capitalism
5. Delaying delivery: postal reform in France
6. Negotiating change: postal reform in Germany
7. Liberalising through the backdoor: postal reform in the UK
8. Postal reform in the European and international political economy
9. The political economy of postal reform and beyond
Index

Promotional

Examines the transformation of public services in different varieties of capitalism. It compares postal reform in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, takes stock of the postal reform movement in Europe and internationally, and discusses policy approaches in telecoms and electricity.

Long Description

Capitalism in Europe is transformed as a result of liberalisation, privatisation and regulatory reform. Unravelling the state as service provider and employer has posed significant social policy challenges to the emerging regulatory state. The book examines how these challenges have been addressed in different varieties of capitalism and across sectors. It compares change in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, takes stock of the reform movement in Europe and internationally, and discusses policy approaches in telecoms and electricity. It pays special attention to falling mail volumes as a driver of change and a new wave of privatisation triggered by the European sovereign debt crisis. The analysis reveals whether and how social policy goals have been addressed by means of regulation and redistribution. The book explains why liberal market economies have been postal reform latecomers and why the regulatory state benefits consumers, but is likely to leave employees' interests behind.

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