Public policy and household behaviour

Since 1945, most developed countries have witnessed a considerable expansion in health and social security systems. France is no exception to this rule. In 2008, for instance, nearly 28% of its GDP, i.e. 527 billion euros, was spent on healthcare, pensions, unemployment benefit and family allowances. Since their inception, social policies have undergone regular modifications. In the current straitened circumstances, however, the need to reassess them has become more pressing. In-depth changes are also required in order to adapt to new demographic trends, both current and projected, such as population ageing and the diversification of adult living arrangements. The aim of this key project will be to analyse the relationship between these trends and social policy. First, the relevance of current policies will be examined, scrutinizing the coherency of their stated aims, their effectiveness and the extent to which they have kept in step with social and demographic developments. This will involve giving explicit expression to sometimes implicit reasoning. Second, the direct and indirect effects of these policies on economic and demographic behaviour (fertility, employment, saving, etc.) will be studied, investigating both the macro and micro levels and looking for possible interactions between the two. By so doing, the aim is to contribute to the debate on the relevance of social policies, the coherency of their objectives and the factors which could enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.

List of participants

Bonnet Carole (responsable), Thevenon Olivier (responsable), Ekert-Jaffe Olivia, Gobillon Laurent, Kesztenbaum Lionel, Luci Angela, Pailhé Ariane, Remillon Dephine, Solaz Anne, Benallah Samia (France, Caisse nationale d'assurance vieillesse), Bourdieu Jérôme (France, Institut national de la recherche agronomique), Courtioux Pierre (France, Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord), Destré Guillaume (France, Conseil d'orientation des retraites), Hourriez Jean-Michel (France, Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques), Math Antoine (France, Institut de recherche économique et sociale), Matysiak Anna (Pologne, Université de Varsovie), Postel-Vinay Gilles (France, Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales), Terraz Isabelle (Martinique, Université de Martinique), Vignoli Daniele (Italie, Université de Florence), Gerari Marco (France, COR), El Moudden Claire (France, Université de Caen), Beffy Magali (France, CEE ), Baguelin Olivier (France, Université d'Evry), Milcent Carine (France, CNRS - PSE)

Mise a jour: 13/1/2011