Mens & Maatschappij - Volume 92, Issue 1, 2017

Off-the-books employment following release from prison

Prior re-entry studies used administrative data to conclude that post-release employment rates are low. These studies may however underestimate ex-prisoners’ labour market participation as especially ex-prisoners are expected to work off-the-books. A prison record might for instance create a legal ban on certain occupations, pushing them towards the informal labour market. This study combines administrative with interview data to examine the prevalence and relative importance of informal employment among former prisoners in the Netherlands (N = 738). Multiple measurement strategies show that a substantial part of these men work off-the-books. About forty percent of these workers rely on it as their primary source of income, but many combine it with a formal job or social benefits. These findings raise concern and show that many post-prison jobs currently do not come to the attention of scholars or governmental organizations.

Does quality management predict performance in schools of secondary education?

Much empirical research has demonstrated correlations between Total Quality Management and performance, usually within companies. This article focuses on schools for secondary education in the Netherlands. It researched whether the assessment of their quality management systems by the Inspectorate of Education can predict future financial and operational (educational) performance. This led to the following conclusions. The present method of assessment of the inspectorate covers only three of six relevant dimensions of an assessment model like the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence Framework. Especially the Human Resource Focus is lacking from the assessments. Perhaps because of that, the usefulness of the assessment for the prediction of future results, is limited. Financial results cannot be predicted in this way. With regard to educational results, only the systematic analysis of students’ results has some predictive power.

The prohibition to assist irregular migrants: case study of the Facilitators’ Package in six European countries and cities

This qualitative multiple case study examines if the Facilitators’ Package, which prohibits assistance to irregular migrants, excludes irregular migrants from accessing housing, healthcare and education. First, the transposition of the Facilitators’ Package was scrutinised in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom. These analyses show significant differences between the six countries studied; there is no harmony between their laws. Second, the implementation in local contexts was researched by means of four parameters: Policy, Polity, Politics and People. It is clear that cities are not norm takers: there are huge gaps between the national legislations and urban practices. At the local level, inclusive (Ghent, Milan, Barcelona) and exclusive cities (Frankfurt, Rotterdam, London) could be distinguished.

A G1000 is meant for everybody: Participation in Kruiskamp, Amersfoort, the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, citizens’ summits are employed to provide citizens a space within the present democratic system. By using a micro lens to study processes at a G1000 in a neighbourhood in the Dutch city of Amersfoort, we have gained insights into the course of the programme of the summit. We analysed how deliberation, group dynamics and (differing) mind-sets affect communication, the creation of a common ground, and the activation of citizens. We found that a safe space is required to enable participants to think out of the box during deliberation. Facilitation by skilled moderators as well as transparency during the program are seen as preconditions for a powerful operation. We also found that interference by representatives of the system world – like (local) government officials – can disturb the group process based on everyday life principles. Finally, this paper shows that diversity among participants is not easily reached, if at all. While the aim is to welcome everyone, there are some implicit values that especially attract the white middleclass. This makes inclusivity of different social classes, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and age a challenge that is still difficult to accomplish.