Minimum Income and Labour Market Integration Processes: individual and Institutional Determinants

Abstract

This article discusses whether activation policies have had a positive
effect on benefi ciaries of minimum income protection in Catalonia
(Spain). The article fi rst confi rms that social assistance benefi ciaries
with higher employability levels have greater chances of fi nding a job.
Second, the article identifi es different profi les of benefi ciaries and examines
the characteristics of those who did not fi nd jobs in a favourable
economic context. The results suggest that it is personal problems
that act as barriers. Third, the article also examines to what extent
public management is responsible for the results. For this purpose, it
compares the performance of administrative units, controlling for the
characteristics of their clients. Finally, the article discusses whether
making social assistance dependent on activation is a good strategy for
the majority of benefi ciaries with particularly diffi cult profi les, and what
administrations can do.