Behavioural Study on the Effects of an Extension of the Access to Social Protection for People in All Forms of Employment

The study is carried out in consortium with the London School of Economics (LSE) and the University of Valencia, on behalf of the European Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion). The project will use behavioural research to explore issues such as:   what would be the effects of extending social protection coverage to include the rising number of people in non-standard employment – such as zero-hour-contract and platform or “gig economy” workers – and the self-employed; how access to information, risk attitudes, and social and economic factors influence citizens’ willingness to pay for social protection; and what drives citizens’ worries about their future living conditions; and To understand that, it will analyse individuals’ attitudes and behaviour through a large, multi-country (n=8000) social survey and experiment.

The exploratory study will inform the European Commission’s ongoing work on access to social protection for people in all forms of employment in the context of the European Pillar of Social Rights. As stated in its 2018 work programme, the European Commission will support Member States to “modernise social security systems, taking into account new forms of work to close the gaps so that everyone who works, irrespective of employment status, can contribute and have access to social protection coverage”.

This project builds off the ongoing work of OE staff on the platform economy and the future of work. Recent releases include the 2016 EC report “The Future of work in the Sharing Economy” co-authored by Cristiano Codagnone.