ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the relation between 'active labour market policies' and workfare programmes by relying on the Swedish Example. The Swedish active labour market policy in the period after the Second World War created a long-lasting profile of Swedish policy with a prime focus on combating unemployment. Swedish policy against unemployment has followed three trajectories: a caritative, a redistributive, and an expansionist approach. The chapter argues that the workfare model derives its essential force from the caritative approach. Its resurrection in Swedish policy is to be found in a marriage of neo-liberalism with social-conservatism. The general ways of implementing workfare policies are either through the enforcement of legislation or changing the legislation itself. In Sweden, where unemployment insurance and social assistance historically have been formally based on the take-up of job offers as the prime component, even though it has not been enforced.
