Flexicurity in the European Union: flexibility for outsiders, security for insiders

Flexicurity is at the heart of European policy debates. Its aim is to overcome the tensions between labour market flexibility on the one hand, and the provision of social security for workers on the other hand. To date, there is little insight into whether flexicurity policies have been adopted across the European Union. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse to what extent labour market policies have been reformed along the lines of the flexicurity concept across 18 European countries over the period 1985-2008. Focusing on the main axes of the flexicurity concept, new datasets are used to examine changes in employment protection legislation, unemployment benefits and active labour market policies. Data on the strictness of employment regulation indicate that reforms have been influenced by labour market insiders, since the level of flexibility has been increased more for temporary employment, the labour market outsiders, than for regular employment, the insiders. Although gross unemployment replacement rates suggest that unemployment benefits have become more generous, net replacement rates indicate that the level of income security from benefits actually has been decreased. Moreover, data illustrate that larger shares of European labour forces have temporary contracts. As such, the gap between insiders and outsiders on the labour market has been increased. This development is contrary to the goals of the European Commission.Flexicurity, insider-outsider theory, labour market policy, welfare state, political economy

Researchers’ opinions about ethically sound dissemination of BCI research to the public media

BCI research and (future) applications raise ethical questions. A websurvey among 144 BCI researchers identified disseminating BCI research to the public media as a central topic. Most researchers felt that BCI scientists must responsibly communicate with the media and that general ethical guidelines on BCI research and application are needed within the next 5 years. We recommend further debate on ethical aspects related to BCI and the development of guidelines

How to survive the recession as a cultural entrepreneur

Cultural entrepreneurship in libraries, museums and other cultural organizations is a dominant trend in the 21st century. The ideas of Pine and Gilmore (1999) about the experience economy were implemented in many libraries all over the world: from Singapore, California to rural towns in the Netherlands. To be successful, libraries cooperate and build strategic alliances with other cultural organizations to develop (new) library services and increase the level of funding. Libraries with a policy of cultural entrepreneurship invested a considerable amount of money in (re)training librarians in the necessary competences for their new role, As well as refurbishing libraries into open-structured, multi-functional places to encourage users to communicate with each other and participate in cultural events. This requires a lot of extra funding. Can libraries uphold their new role as cultural entrepreneur in the next couple of years? A major cut in library funding is expected by many library directors, due to huge budget deficits in many countries, caused by the worldwide recession. Libraries have to show they can make a real contribution to society to guarantee funding in even the most difficult of times. Review the library mission and operating model. Look for new opportunities that will help to survive the deep recession. Pursuing a wider range of possible partners for library services, acquiring income in new ways. Cultural entrepreneurship will make the difference in steering through this difficult times