B4596 - European Social Policy

Learning outcomes

The course provides an in-depth exploration of European social policy, focusing on its historical development, key institutions, policyareas, challenges, and debates. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the European social model, its principles, and its impact on member states and citizens. At the end of the course students will be able to critically analyze social policies and their implications in the European Union.

Course contents

The course will deal with the following topics:

1. Historical evolution of the EU and the European Social Policy. The present and the future of the European Social Policy: The European Pillar of Social Rights.
2. EU Institutions and law-making process. The European Single Market.
3. Free Movement of Workers and Posting of Workers in the EU.
4. Equal treatment and non-discrimination.
5. Working conditions: Transparency and predictability, minimum wage, health and safety.
6. Atypical and Non-Subordinate Work: Part-time, fixed-term, temporary agency work, dependent contractors.
7. Restructuring of Undertakings: Transfer of undertaking, collective Redundancies, employer insolvency. Corporate Social Responsibility
8. Social responses to the digital revolution: Platform work, artificial intelligence, data protection and privacy.
9. The European Social Charter and its impact on Member States.

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS:
Attending students are requested to study the class materials (PPT presentations) available on "virtuale," which will be explained and integrated in class. If they wish to further supplement their understanding of the topics covered by the course, they can refer to the readings provided for non-attending students.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
Non-attending students are requested to prepare for the examination using the readings that will be listed here in due time. The readings will be accessible on "virtuale."

Teaching methods

Lectures will be regularly complemented by seminars featuring experts in the subject field

Assessment methods

For attending students only the final evaluation will take into consideration active participation in class (10% of the overall grade), group presentations that students will be required to prepare (40%), and a final paper on a topic agreed upon with the instructor from those covered during the classes (50%).

For non attending students the final evaluation will consist in an oral examination on the materials indicated for them.

Teaching tools

Power Point Presentations

Office hours

See the website of Emanuele Menegatti