Governance and Finance-Related Characteristics of ‘Revived’ Social Investment Policies: A Greek Example

Year 2018, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 185 - 196, 29.10.2018

Varvara Lalioti

Abstract

In a context
characterized by the ‘rediscovery’ of the social investment approach to welfare
provision and a renewed emphasis on ideas relevant to this approach – such as
investing in human capital as a means to enhance individual capacity to cope
with social risks – apprenticeship programmes have come to the forefront of public debate. This article draws on the findings of a large-scale,
mostly qualitative research project (December 2015–March 2017) that
reviewed apprenticeships in crisis-ridden Greece and in the framework of which,
inter alia, 150 stakeholders (apprentices, graduates, employers, etc) were
surveyed. It offers, for the first time, a critical and succinct, but also
comprehensive overview of the characteristics associated with two crucial dimensions
of a policy which typifies this ‘revived’ social investment approach: the
governance and financing of apprenticeships in Greece. It is argued that the
governance and financing of apprenticeships in this country are characterized
by positive features, as well as severe shortcomings. The latter undermine the
effectiveness of the policy and thus pose obstacles to the potential to attain
the goals related to the core of the social investment approach. 

Keywords

Social investment approach, Apprenticeships, Governance, Financing Mechanisms, Greece.

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