ABSTRACT
Over the last decade, unemployment has increasingly been dealt with by resorting to active labour market policies. Economists and policy makers have focused on measures (such as training, incentives and information) that are expected to raise the efficiency of the market. Even though unemployment relief systems devised under the (post-) Keynesian framework are still at work alternatives have been introduced which consist of making welfare help people to gain self-sufficiency through work. Welfare-to-work or workfare – a milestone in President Clinton’s and in Prime Minister Blair’s reforms – provides support to the unemployed only insofar as they are willing to accept a job.
