The Crisis of the European Social Model

The social policies directed at the labor market were established in the 50s and 60s on an environment of international economic stability and predictable growth. Then came the long oil crisis of the 70s and the world economy has entered into recession. Since then the European economy has recovered gradually, but at lower rates than the United States and China. The social policies entailed by the EU aimed to build an European Social Model (public policies in education, health, social protection, poverty relief, pensions, subsidies to the unemployed, assistance to single mothers, family allowances, marriage, contracts, vertical working contracts) have now an insurmountable structural cost that makes it impossible to keep, in the long run. The article looks at the model, its objectives of social justice and equality looking what are the challenges that it is confronted with