Life in Dignity

Despite the abundance of legal and socio-political promises, combatting poverty remains an unrealised goal. This raises the question of how states actually guarantee minimum subsistence. Addressing it touches on the core responsibilities of the welfare state. This book explores the question by analysing social benefits designed to ensure a minimum income in 16 countries, distinguishing three dimensions: first, the normative framework and the legal obligations of states to ensure minimum subsistence; second, the interplay between different social benefit systems that pursue this goal and the challenges this poses for effective protection; third, the design, adequacy and implementation of specific livelihood benefits.

With contributions by
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Becker, LL.M. Julia Cunha Cruz, LL.M. Prof. Dr. Elaine Dewhurst Dr. Irene Domenici Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Górnicz-Mulcahy Assoc.-Prof. Dr. Yaroslava Guenova, PhD Prof. Dr. Linxin He Dr. Eva Maria Hohnerlein Prof. Eri Kasagi Prof. Dr. Ute Kötter Assoc.-Prof. Monika Lewandowicz-Machnikowska, PhD Prof. Dr. Gabriela Mendizábal Bermúdez Ass.-Prof. Dr. Luka Mišic Dr. Teodora Petrova Prof. Dr. Flavia Piovesan Prof. Dr. Viviana Ponce de León Solís Ri Dr. Anastasia Poulou Ass.-Prof. Dr. Ariel Przybylowicz Ass.-Prof. Dr. María Dolores Ramírez Bendala Prof. Dr. Cristina Sánchez-Rodas Navarro Assoc.-Prof. Anika Seemann Prof. Dr. Kwang Seok Cheon Prof. Dr. Henriette Sinding Aasen Prof. Dr. Grega Strban Daniel Wainstock, LLB Nikola Wilman, LL.M., MJur