The development of municipal activation policy

There was a rising demand for social assistance after the recession in the 1990s (Svenska Kommunforbundet 1998). For many, it was an increasing concern that those without a prior attachment to the labour market were being referred to the municipal social assistance systems (Sunesson et al. 1998), others extolled the benefits and success of municipal activation measures (Carlsson and Rojas 2001 Zall 2001). 

Giertz (2006) summarises the recent development in Swedish municipalities with regard to activation in five points  

The manifested right for municipalities to demand activity among social 

18 In SOU 2007 2 Giertz writes that 19% of social assistance recipients are participating in governmental ALMP programmes compared with 29% of those who receive UI. 

The duty for social assistance recipients to accept participation in activation programmes. 

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Unemployed youth on social assistance has functioned as a test group for the development of municipal activation policy and many new requirements have been tested in this group first. 

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