Mens & Maatschappij - Volume 91, Issue 4, 2016

Summary The unequal city Social (spatial) inequality appears to be increasing in many cities across the globe, and also in Europe and in the Netherlands. Formerly rather equal societies, such as Sweden and the Netherlands, are currently confronted with much higher levels of socioeconomic inequality, potentially also resulting in increasing spatial inequality. In this paper we address these dynamics, with a speci Read More

Abstract Making a difference in the neighbourhood: Increased inequalities in civic participation between neighbourhoods and residents? Do inequalities in civic participation increase in a policy context in which more is asked of the responsibility and self-efficacy of citizens to shape and maintain their local environment? It is argued in this article that residents do not have equal opportunities to contribute to neighbourhoo Read More

Abstract Local democracy and the problem of participatory inequality The growing responsibilities of Dutch local governments for policy that was originally carried out by the national government raise the question to what extent local democracy is up to these tasks. Citizen participation is a central demand in any representative democracy. Participation ought to be not merely high, but also equal and non-selective, so that th Read More

Abstract Is more local home care more (un)equal? Socioeconomic inequalities in the access to home care in Dutch municipalities before and after the implementation of the Social Support Act (WMO) in 2007 The partial decentralisation of long-term care in the Netherlands is accompanied by cutbacks, reduction of individual social rights, and increasing dependency on self-, informal and private care. Are municipalities able to e Read More