ABSTRACT
The present chapter looks into social policy, along with some recent developments as well as some aspects of history. The chapter gives an account of social benefit systems, state programmes and reforms and policies to encourage citizens to contribute to the fulfilment of social aims. Survey data is used to examine to what extent different types of poor households receive benefits. Survey data is complemented with experiences by receivers of benefits and local experts, as expressed in interviews with both social work experts and households on outcomes of policy at the local level. Interviews conducted in 2010–2011 present a picture of the situation after the global economic crisis in 2008–2009. Another bulk of interviews were conducted in 2015–2017, during and just after the downturn of the economy after the next crisis starting in 2013 with the fall in oil prices. Some interviews between these years will also be referred to and reflected upon in this chapter.
