Article

2004-10-08 Europe

Dutch Minister Calls for New Social Model for EU

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Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2004-10-08 12:49:55 PM|| || Front Page|| [11132 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I stay and argue, but I'm leaving early.

Posted by Shipman 2004-10-08 12:58:40 PM|| 2004-10-08 12:58:40 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 The gap is worse than 55% when you realize most things cost quite a bit more in Europe.

Posted by ed 2004-10-08 1:00:18 PM|| 2004-10-08 1:00:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Another traitor to the cause of cultural diversity. He's soon to be personna non grata in gay Paris.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-10-08 1:02:16 PM|| 2004-10-08 1:02:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 But it will still be a European model, reflecting European preferences for social inclusion and environment. The main conditions for achieving this are enhancing growth and employability,â he said.

Anyone out there who can translate this from gobbledy gook to plainspoken English? What causes what?

Posted by jules 187 2004-10-08 1:08:44 PM|| 2004-10-08 1:08:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Jules - I think he's saying they need to copy the American economic model while claiming it's a European model.

Or maybe he's using diplomatic bullshitspeak out of habit. :-p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2004-10-08 2:02:01 PM|| 2004-10-08 2:02:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 What's unclear is that social seems to be substituting for economic in this article.

If it's an economic model that imitates the US's but is more concerned with social inclusion and environment, then that might entail reducing the gap between rich and poor, giving a voice to all "castes" of a society in the economic plan, and keeping business in line with stricter environmental regulations. That sounds like something Europe would be comfortable with anyway.

If he is talking about a social model, what does he mean by that term?

Posted by jules 187 2004-10-08 2:13:08 PM|| 2004-10-08 2:13:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 As someone who has spent a number of years in the Netherlands working with both private and government entities, I am not surprised that they are out front on this. He is not using double speak but rather using what is called their the Polder Model(named after the canals or polders that dot the landscape. In this model, you achieve consensus among employer and employee (as well as the community)of equal value and consideration - very much like collective bargaining here but with more social, cultural and local community values included and agreed to. I believe what he is doing (and this is very much a Dutch business culture tactic) is to show a weakening of competition not due so much to the cradle to grave welfare and state sponsored nannieism but rather to lack of progress on the productivity front. Lets work more hours, smarter, faster, etc. But at the same time enjoy our time off, our leisure pursuits blah, blah, blah. The fact is that outside of the UK - the only old europe country that could drive this is the Netherlands and their closest partner the Flemings of Belgium. These are the original great international merchant class and they have seen their markets slip lately due to the loss of productivity.

Posted by Jack is Back! 2004-10-08 3:10:13 PM|| 2004-10-08 3:10:13 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 The Dutch have moved further ahead than their continental peers in the areas of flexible work rules and labor mobility. At the same time, they could teach us a few things about work/life balance.

Posted by lex 2004-10-08 3:51:08 PM|| 2004-10-08 3:51:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 At the same time, they could teach us a few things about work/life balance.

What? I can have more fun than any 3.2 Euros, but only for 2 weeks and football season.

Posted by Shipman 2004-10-08 5:41:46 PM|| 2004-10-08 5:41:46 PM|| Front Page Top

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