Social policy of the Greek municipalities in times of economic crisis: ‘embedded autonomy’ of local actors in social policy services at the local level

Abstract

This article analyses the ways in which the Greek municipalities have responded to the social policy challenges that the country has been encountering since the outbreak of the economic crisis and the imposition of the austerity measures in 2010. The conceptual framework adopted is that of ‘embedded autonomy’ of the Greek municipalities’ activities in their surrounding socioeconomic environments. The conclusions of the article are not encouraging with respect to the capacity of local government to respond to the phenomena of poverty and social deprivation that have arisen locally. The organisations that have been created with this mandate are limited and face significant operational problems. The same applies to the organisations dealing with social welfare that had already existed before the crisis. In both cases the most significant problem that the article identifies is the lack of sufficient funding, which affects negatively the organisational capacities of social welfare structures. The function of the structures is based primarily upon EU funding, whilst the municipalities have limited autonomy to collect and spend financial resources. In these factors the article adds the problems that have spurred up following the unprecedented cuts of the municipalities’ budgets from the central government since 2010.