Continuing debate concerning the functioning of advisory boards to the Dutch central government seems hindered by lacking historical insight and insufficient empirical data. Especially the period until 1970 and so-called state committees (an important type of advisory board) have been neglected. This article therefore presents findings from historical research into Dutch state committees between 1814 and 1970. We provide a hitherto lacking overview of their origin, numbers, composition, functioning and topics. We also provide a first quantitative analysis to investigate the question what state committee activity tells us about continuity and change of the task perception of subsequent Dutch governments in this period. We argue that the so-called ‘night watchman state’ of the long 19th century (in which government did as least as possible) does become apparent from the number of state committees over time but that it seems never to have existed when we look at the topics they dealt with. Furthermore, the Dutch welfare state (said to have existed from the 1930s onwards) shows much less state committee activity then one would expect. We conclude with urgent questions for future research into advice and advisory boards in The Netherlands and introduce a digital database to facilitate such work. |
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Redactioneel |
Van de redactie |
Auteurs | Ewald Engelen |
Auteursinformatie |
Artikel |
Advies aan de regering: staatscommissies in Nederland tussen 1814 en 1970 |
Trefwoorden | state committees, governmental advisory boards, administrative history, nightwatchman state, welfare state |
Auteurs | Dr. Toon Kerkhoff en Joshua Martina MSc |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Artikel |
De democratische vertegenwoordiging van cliënten en patiënten bij de decentralisaties |
Trefwoorden | representative claim, democratic decision making, Decentralization, social and health policies, Municipalities |
Auteurs | Dr. Hester Van de Bovenkamp en Dr. Hans Vollaard |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Citizen participation is firmly on the agenda of many Western policy makers. Numerous opportunities for individuals to participate in public decision-making have been created. However, few citizens use these opportunities. Those who do are often the highly educated, white, middle and upper classes that also tend to dominate other democratic spaces. Opportunities to become active can increase inequalities in terms of whose voices are heard in public decision-making. This fundamentally challenges the central democratic value of equality. Nevertheless, others can represent the interests of those who remain silent. Using the concept of representative claim this paper explores a variety of forms of representation (electoral, formal non-electoral and informal self-appointed) in the domain of social policy which is currently decentralized in the Netherlands. We conclude that especially informal self-appointed representatives such as medical professionals, churches and patient organizations can potentially play an important role in representing groups who often remain unheard in the public debate. They can therefore play an important role in ensuring the democratic quality of the decentralization process. |
Artikel |
Keuzemogelijkheden binnen en tussen pensioenregelingen: niet voor elk wat wils |
Trefwoorden | Tweede pensioenzuil, Solidariteit, Keuzemogelijkheden, Preferenties, economische theorie |
Auteurs | Dr. Lei Delsen |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Surveys show that Dutch people want more options with regard to the own pension. Can freedom of choice be combined with collective organised solidarity within supplementary pension schemes? To answer this question the article discusses the pros and cons of options of workers and employers within and between pension schemes. The theoretical and empirical consequences of choices in the Dutch supplementary pension schemes are reviewed. The neo-classical economic theory, the neo-institutional theory and behavioral economic theory are applied to supplementary pensions. In addition, lessons are learned from the experience in the Netherlands with choices within pension schemes and with choices in other areas. Only a very small minority will use the new options in the supplementary pension schemes. Unlike the neoclassical economic theory, the neo-institutional theory and behavioral economic theory recommend to extend the compulsory supplementary pension to all employed persons. The welfare gain of more choices is questionable. Lifting the mandatory participation will affect the relative success of the Dutch pension system: large numbers of insured workers and relatively cheap and a relatively high pension as a result of this supplementary pension. |
Casus |
Verdwijnt de middenklasse? |
Auteurs | Monique Kremer |
Auteursinformatie |
Casus |
Staat de middenklasse onder druk? |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Paul De Beer |
Auteursinformatie |
Casus |
De match tussen mens en machine |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Bas Ter Weel |
Auteursinformatie |
Casus |
De volatiliteit van de middengroepen |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Wouter Van der Brug en Dr. Tom Van der Meer |
Auteursinformatie |
Casus |
Luisteren naar het rommelen van de vulkaan |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Gabriel Van den Brink |
Auteursinformatie |
Casus |
De continuïteit van onzekerheid: middenklassen in de VS |
Auteurs | Monique Kremer |
Auteursinformatie |
Boekbespreking |
Improviseren als vak |
Auteurs | Albert-Jan Kruiter |
Auteursinformatie |
Column |
Schuld en vergeving |
Auteurs | Marcel Hoogenboom |
Auteursinformatie |