The paper compares the Maltese welfare state with other mainstream welfare regimes. It makes use ... more The paper compares the Maltese welfare state with other mainstream welfare regimes. It makes use of Esping-Andersen’s concepts of decommodification and stratification, whilst also looking at political and ideological factors. The European context in general, as analyzed by Roche, and the Southern European context in particular, as analyzed by Ferrera, are given particular attention. For this purpose, qualitative interviewing and analysis of secondary data was analysed through a sociological perspective. The paper argues that Malta has a hybrid model which does not neatly fit in one particular model of welfare. Indeed it has similarities and differences with other welfare models such as the Liberal, Social-Democratic, Continental and Southern European. However Malta must also keep in line with targets set by the European Union, which in turn are likely to influence Malta’s welfare model.
This dissertation scrutinizes the implications of EU Structural Funds on the Maltese Public Admin... more This dissertation scrutinizes the implications of EU Structural Funds on the Maltese Public Administration from Malta’s accession to the European Union up to the execution of the 2007-2013 Programming Period. This study reviews these implications in the context of two theoretical frameworks namely Public Choice Theory and Managerialism. Information was gathered through semi-structured interviews as well as from quantitative data that was available from official documentation as well as from beneficiaries of Structural Funds. Whilst Malta has a comparatively high rate of absorption capacity of EU Funds when compared to other Member States of the European Union, a number of gaps that can jeopardise this rate were uncovered in this study. These start from working in a system under tight scrutiny of the supranational, namely the European Commission and the European Court of Auditors, both of which have their own set of respective checks and balances. Subsequently, this can bring about a high level of bureaucracy at national level to safeguard these checks and balances which might hinder the scope of managing Structural Funds, namely the optimum absorption and implementation of these funds. In this regard, Malta’s small public administration comprises of stakeholders within the system of Structural Funds that must execute their ‘normal’ public function as well as carry out their functions in relation to Structural Funds. With such little room for the limited administration to manoeuvre, this is leading to a situation where the entire system is not reacting in a timely manner leading to delays in adjusting to the exigencies of the supranational and delays in the implementation and absorption of activities and funds respectively. With the help of continuums and dichotomies of the structures within the public administration, this study analyses the parts of the administration that have been shaped during this complex relationship between Structural Funds and the administration itself. Furthermore, this study proposes recommendations on how systematic improvements can be carried out even within the remit of these funds.
This dissertation is about the exploration of the traits of the Maltese welfare state in comparis... more This dissertation is about the exploration of the traits of the Maltese welfare state in comparison to the mainstream welfare regimes. Many studies have taken place to determine the various characteristics of several welfare regimes which capitalist countries comprise in relation to their welfare state. Furthermore, the three main welfare regimes established by these studies are the Conservative, Liberal and Social Democratic; and eventually the Southern European welfare state. This study deduces that Malta has no clear-cut traits that replicate one particular model of welfare. Moreover, Malta has a hybrid system of welfare as a result of certain factors such as Malta’s colonial history, the country’s geographical location, the importance of the Church, EU membership; among others.
The paper compares the Maltese welfare state with other mainstream welfare regimes. It makes use ... more The paper compares the Maltese welfare state with other mainstream welfare regimes. It makes use of Esping-Andersen’s concepts of decommodification and stratification, whilst also looking at political and ideological factors. The European context in general, as analyzed by Roche, and the Southern European context in particular, as analyzed by Ferrera, are given particular attention. For this purpose, qualitative interviewing and analysis of secondary data was analysed through a sociological perspective. The paper argues that Malta has a hybrid model which does not neatly fit in one particular model of welfare. Indeed it has similarities and differences with other welfare models such as the Liberal, Social-Democratic, Continental and Southern European. However Malta must also keep in line with targets set by the European Union, which in turn are likely to influence Malta’s welfare model.
This dissertation scrutinizes the implications of EU Structural Funds on the Maltese Public Admin... more This dissertation scrutinizes the implications of EU Structural Funds on the Maltese Public Administration from Malta’s accession to the European Union up to the execution of the 2007-2013 Programming Period. This study reviews these implications in the context of two theoretical frameworks namely Public Choice Theory and Managerialism. Information was gathered through semi-structured interviews as well as from quantitative data that was available from official documentation as well as from beneficiaries of Structural Funds. Whilst Malta has a comparatively high rate of absorption capacity of EU Funds when compared to other Member States of the European Union, a number of gaps that can jeopardise this rate were uncovered in this study. These start from working in a system under tight scrutiny of the supranational, namely the European Commission and the European Court of Auditors, both of which have their own set of respective checks and balances. Subsequently, this can bring about a high level of bureaucracy at national level to safeguard these checks and balances which might hinder the scope of managing Structural Funds, namely the optimum absorption and implementation of these funds. In this regard, Malta’s small public administration comprises of stakeholders within the system of Structural Funds that must execute their ‘normal’ public function as well as carry out their functions in relation to Structural Funds. With such little room for the limited administration to manoeuvre, this is leading to a situation where the entire system is not reacting in a timely manner leading to delays in adjusting to the exigencies of the supranational and delays in the implementation and absorption of activities and funds respectively. With the help of continuums and dichotomies of the structures within the public administration, this study analyses the parts of the administration that have been shaped during this complex relationship between Structural Funds and the administration itself. Furthermore, this study proposes recommendations on how systematic improvements can be carried out even within the remit of these funds.
This dissertation is about the exploration of the traits of the Maltese welfare state in comparis... more This dissertation is about the exploration of the traits of the Maltese welfare state in comparison to the mainstream welfare regimes. Many studies have taken place to determine the various characteristics of several welfare regimes which capitalist countries comprise in relation to their welfare state. Furthermore, the three main welfare regimes established by these studies are the Conservative, Liberal and Social Democratic; and eventually the Southern European welfare state. This study deduces that Malta has no clear-cut traits that replicate one particular model of welfare. Moreover, Malta has a hybrid system of welfare as a result of certain factors such as Malta’s colonial history, the country’s geographical location, the importance of the Church, EU membership; among others.
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Papers by Ian Bugeja