We are now organising the 10^th Social Situation Monitor - Research Seminar: Social investment policies as a catalyst for upward social convergence on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, which will take place on 25 January 2024 in Brussels.

In recent years, the EU has faced significant challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the consequent energy price crisis and additional market instability. These crises intensified the political debate on the need for upward economic and social convergence to achieve social cohesion, reduce socioeconomic imbalances and strengthen social resilience and solidarity in the EU. The digital and green transitions, demographic challenges, and increasing geopolitical and economic uncertainty underscore the importance of upward social convergence.

In this context, social investments play a key role in promoting upward social convergence and the overall well-being of EU citizens, while contributing to fiscal sustainability and economic growth. They encompass a wide range of policy areas, including early childhood education and care, education, training, healthcare, housing, and active labour market policies. Their impact is likely to depend on the policy area, the design of the intervention and the time period considered and may vary across Member States or economic sectors.

This research seminar will aim to fill the analytical gaps on this topic, such as the absence of a universally accepted definition of social investments and the lack of a consistent framework for the measurement of their returns or determining the social investment gaps related to achieving social cohesion, or green and digital transition. It will also explore the hindering and promoting factors to upward social convergence, with a focus on social investment policies.

To register for your place fill in the form via the provided link