an article by Vera Kovács published in Eurozine
Abstract
The criminalization of homelessness was written into the Hungarian constitution in 2018, which caused international uproar and condemnation by the UN. But punitive measures are not a speciality of the Orbán government. Many European countries have taken similar steps. But only Hungary has made a specific social situation – ‘habitually staying in a public space’ – a criminal offence punishable by jail. Though recent elections have shown some room for change, expectations remain low.
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Showing posts with label Hungary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hungary. Show all posts
Thursday, 14 November 2019
Wednesday, 1 May 2019
The use and abuse of participatory governance by populist governments
Agnes Batory, batorya@ceu.edu
Sara Svensson, Svenssons@ceu.edu
Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Policy & Politics Volume 47 Number 2 (April 2019)
Populists claim that they alone represent the voice of the people against a corrupt elite. We argue that populist governments augment this claim by appropriating and manipulating the language and methods of participatory governance. Advancing an analytical framework on content, process, effect, resource efficiency and communication dimensions, we illustrate these arguments with the National Consultations in Hungary in 2010–18. Our conclusion for the case study is that these exercises were deeply flawed for securing popular input into policy-making. The implication for scholarship is that participatory governance enthusiasts need to be more aware not just of the uses, but also the abuses, of public input, while scholars of populism should pay more attention to the actual policies and practices populist actors employ to gain or maintain power.
Full text (PDF 18pp)
Sara Svensson, Svenssons@ceu.edu
Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Policy & Politics Volume 47 Number 2 (April 2019)
Populists claim that they alone represent the voice of the people against a corrupt elite. We argue that populist governments augment this claim by appropriating and manipulating the language and methods of participatory governance. Advancing an analytical framework on content, process, effect, resource efficiency and communication dimensions, we illustrate these arguments with the National Consultations in Hungary in 2010–18. Our conclusion for the case study is that these exercises were deeply flawed for securing popular input into policy-making. The implication for scholarship is that participatory governance enthusiasts need to be more aware not just of the uses, but also the abuses, of public input, while scholars of populism should pay more attention to the actual policies and practices populist actors employ to gain or maintain power.
Full text (PDF 18pp)
Thursday, 5 January 2017
Defying the Commission: Creative Compliance and Respect for the Rule of Law in the EU
an article by Agnes Batory (Central European University, Hungary) published in Public Administration Volume 94 Issue 3
(September 2016)
Abstract
This article investigates how and to what extent member states comply with EU obligations in terms of process and outcome. The aim is to demonstrate how norm-conform behaviour unfolds, or fails to unfold, in an interaction between a member state and the European Commission.
The empirical focus is on recent rule of law crises in France, Hungary and Romania.
The argument is that member states engage in symbolic and/or creative compliance, designed to create the appearance of norm-conform behaviour without giving up their original objectives. The cases illustrate that creative and symbolic compliance strategies may be successfully employed by member states because they enable the Commission to disengage from conflicts it judges too costly and yet maintain its credibility, and are conditioned by the visibility of failure to change facts on the ground.
The implication is that, at times, not only is compliance symbolic, but also to some extent is enforcement.
Full text (HTML)
Abstract
This article investigates how and to what extent member states comply with EU obligations in terms of process and outcome. The aim is to demonstrate how norm-conform behaviour unfolds, or fails to unfold, in an interaction between a member state and the European Commission.
The empirical focus is on recent rule of law crises in France, Hungary and Romania.
The argument is that member states engage in symbolic and/or creative compliance, designed to create the appearance of norm-conform behaviour without giving up their original objectives. The cases illustrate that creative and symbolic compliance strategies may be successfully employed by member states because they enable the Commission to disengage from conflicts it judges too costly and yet maintain its credibility, and are conditioned by the visibility of failure to change facts on the ground.
The implication is that, at times, not only is compliance symbolic, but also to some extent is enforcement.
Full text (HTML)
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Vintage effects, aging and productivity
an article by Anna Lovász (Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary) and Mariann Rigó (Central European University, Budapest, Hungary) published in Labour Economics Volume 22 (June 2013)
Abstract
We provide new empirical evidence on the link between age and productivity using a transitional context. Building on a model of skill obsolescence, we assess the long-term adjustment process following a sudden change in skills needed in production that severely worsened older workers' labor market situation.
The model implies that
The results suggest that – in line with the model – the within firm productivity differential between older and younger workers following the transition was largest among the highly skilled. The fall in relative productivity followed the inflow of modern capital: the gap was largest in 1992–1995 in foreign-owned firms, while it appeared gradually and was smaller in domestic firms.
The magnitude and the negative effects of the adjustment period witnessed in Hungary highlight the importance of policies aimed at providing core competencies and adult training that enable older workers to adjust to sudden economic and technological changes.
Highlights
► We investigate the link between age and productivity in a transitional context.
► We study the impact of economic skill obsolescence in the long run.
► Highly educated older workers are more affected than unskilled ones.
► Their disadvantage disappears over time.
► The timing of the shock differs among firm ownership types.
Abstract
We provide new empirical evidence on the link between age and productivity using a transitional context. Building on a model of skill obsolescence, we assess the long-term adjustment process following a sudden change in skills needed in production that severely worsened older workers' labor market situation.
The model implies that
- the devaluation of skills should affect highly educated older workers more severely,
- the disadvantage should disappear over time as newer cohorts acquire more suitable human capital, and
- the timing should differ among firm ownership types, reflecting the inflow of modern technologies and practices.
The results suggest that – in line with the model – the within firm productivity differential between older and younger workers following the transition was largest among the highly skilled. The fall in relative productivity followed the inflow of modern capital: the gap was largest in 1992–1995 in foreign-owned firms, while it appeared gradually and was smaller in domestic firms.
The magnitude and the negative effects of the adjustment period witnessed in Hungary highlight the importance of policies aimed at providing core competencies and adult training that enable older workers to adjust to sudden economic and technological changes.
Highlights
► We investigate the link between age and productivity in a transitional context.
► We study the impact of economic skill obsolescence in the long run.
► Highly educated older workers are more affected than unskilled ones.
► Their disadvantage disappears over time.
► The timing of the shock differs among firm ownership types.
Monday, 5 March 2012
Towards an illiberal democracy – Hungary’s new constitution
an article by Gábor Halmai published in Eurozine articles
Hungary’s new constitution contradicts European democratic standards on numerous counts. It allows the current government to set in stone its economic and social policy; it excludes other nationalities living within Hungary while entitling “ethnic” Hungarians beyond its borders; and, most starkly anti-democratically, it undermines the independence of regulatory institutions ranging from the national bank to the constitutional court and media.
Read in full and be frightened!
Hungary’s new constitution contradicts European democratic standards on numerous counts. It allows the current government to set in stone its economic and social policy; it excludes other nationalities living within Hungary while entitling “ethnic” Hungarians beyond its borders; and, most starkly anti-democratically, it undermines the independence of regulatory institutions ranging from the national bank to the constitutional court and media.
Read in full and be frightened!
Saturday, 2 July 2011
The development of a lifelong guidance system in Hungary
an article by AG Watts (International Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby)and Bors Borbély-Pecze (National Lifelong Guidance System Development Unit, National Employment Office, Budapest) published in International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance (Volume 11 Number 1 (March 2011))
Abstract
Systematic work is currently being undertaken in Hungary to develop a lifelong guidance system, in line with principles outlined by leading international organisations. The origins of career guidance in Hungary, and the nature of the current career guidance system, are outlined. The main features of the current development programme, supported by the European Social Fund, are presented, alongside the strategic work of the National Lifelong Guidance Council. Key issues relating to these developments are discussed.
Abstract
Systematic work is currently being undertaken in Hungary to develop a lifelong guidance system, in line with principles outlined by leading international organisations. The origins of career guidance in Hungary, and the nature of the current career guidance system, are outlined. The main features of the current development programme, supported by the European Social Fund, are presented, alongside the strategic work of the National Lifelong Guidance Council. Key issues relating to these developments are discussed.
There is also an article giving details of the 2008-2010 programme of work on the cedefop website http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/articles/17599.aspx
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