Books by Maja Gerovska Mitev
The pandemic caused by the global spread of the coronavirus Covid-19 is harming social, education... more The pandemic caused by the global spread of the coronavirus Covid-19 is harming social, educational and health wellbeing of children, with the most vulnerable being hit the hardest. Children are being impacted directly, through school, extra-curricular and childcare facilities closures, social distancing and confinement, which puts a heavy burden on their educational, cognitive and emotional development, with the risk of increasing their anxiety and stress levels. Children are also being impacted indirectly, through the reduction of household incomes, which reduces their material and social wellbeing, impairs access to social and healthcare, while also exposing the hardest hit to risks malnutrition. It is critical to understand that the negative impact of the Covid-19 crisis may be particularly strong for some groups of children including those living in poverty, children with disabilities, children deprived of parental care, children in detention and so on. Furthermore, negative impacts of this scale may extend well beyond the short term spreading childhood poverty across many childhood years or beyond.
Papers by Maja Gerovska Mitev
The purpose of the report is to assess the extent to which low-income children in North Macedonia... more The purpose of the report is to assess the extent to which low-income children in North Macedonia do indeed have effective (or effective and free) access to services advocated in the “European Child Guarantee” (ECG), including:
• effective and free access to four services: high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC); education and school-based activities; at least one healthy meal each school day; and healthcare; and
• effective access to two services: healthy nutrition and adequate housing.
Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy , 2022
This paper analyses social protection expenditure, its financing and its correlation with redistr... more This paper analyses social protection expenditure, its financing and its correlation with redistribution effects in the European Union (EU) candidate and potential candidate countries from the Western Balkans-Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia. Although social expenditure in the Western Balkans varies between countries in terms of the extent and functions, in general, it is growing and concentrates on the elderly population. The expenditure is strongly redistributive towards old age, but is less efficient in reducing extensive child and working-age poverty. From an intergenerational perspective, despite various recent improvements, it remains significantly unbalanced compared to the EU. The expenditure reflects the design of social rights that have been shaped by the legacy of socialism and war, local politics, and international organisations perhaps more than by the impact of economic resources and aging.
Support for essential services for low-income people in North Macedonia is most systematically de... more Support for essential services for low-income people in North Macedonia is most systematically developed in relation to access to energy, compared with all other essential services. The essential services where there are the most access problems for low-income groups are water and sanitation, in particular for low-income Roma households. In these cases there are systematic barriers linked to social exclusion.
ESPN Thematic Report on National strategies to fight homelessness and housing exclusion, 2019
Homelessness in North Macedonia has become more visible over the past couple of years. While offi... more Homelessness in North Macedonia has become more visible over the past couple of years. While official numbers of registered homeless persons may not suggest that is is an prevailing problem, trends related to other types of homelessness (e.g. people living rough and people living in temporary structures) indicate that a much larger number of persons and families are affected by this issue. According to the experiences of homeless persons in shelters, the main reasons for homelessness include: substance abuse and addiction, poverty and delinquency, domestic family issues and mental health issues. The Report also analyzes the phenomenon of street children, as well as the conditions related to the substandard housing and housing deprivation in the country.
ESPN Flash report, 2019
In May 2019, North Macedonia adopted a new Law on social protection which strengthens the social ... more In May 2019, North Macedonia adopted a new Law on social protection which strengthens the social protection rights of people with disabilities and their families. It abolishes means-testing for all disability benefits, excludes disability benefits from the income base used for assessing means-tested benefits and introduces social services such as home care, respite care or personal assistance.
ESPN Thematic Report on Financing Social Protection - North Macedonia, 2019
Financing of social protection in North Macedonia is a reflection of not only the economic develo... more Financing of social protection in North Macedonia is a reflection of not only the economic developments in the country, but also the result of political and social changes that happened during the period 2005-2016. Apart from the low economic growth, low employment rate as well as the demographic factors, the financing of social protection during the analysed period was also largely dependent on political choices, which used ‘populist measures’ that have contributed towards introduction of unproductive social transfers and increase of the social insurance fund deficits.
The Report provides insight into aggregate developments in financing levels of social protection in North Macedonia for the period 2005-2018, as well as expenditure on separate branches or functions of social protection (pensions, health care, social assistance, unemployment assistance). The Report also comments the ESSPROS data, which are published for the first time for MK in April 2019.
ESPN Thematic Report on In-work poverty, 2019
The report discusses trends , policies and challenges related to in-work poverty in North Macedon... more The report discusses trends , policies and challenges related to in-work poverty in North Macedonia. In-work poverty (IWP) in North Macedonia affected 8.9% of employed persons aged 18-64 in 2016. An analysis of IWP during 2012-2016 shows a net decline of 2.1 p.p. The IWP rate in 2016 was highest among those with lower secondary education or less
(25.5%), part-time workers (24.7%), the self-employed (18.6%), and single employed persons with dependent children (30.8%). Data from the structure of earnings survey (SES) also suggest a significant incidence of low wages, with 25.1% of all employees on low wages in 2014.
Based on the statistical findings presented, it may be concluded that the key drivers and dimensions influencing IWP are: low pay, household structure and parenthood, educational attainment, and working time/type of employment contract.
Despite 90.3% coverage by health insurance in 2016, EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions... more Despite 90.3% coverage by health insurance in 2016, EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) data show that 20.5% of people in the country have great difficulty using the healthcare services.
In addition, the EU-SILC indicator on self-reported unmet need in the country for 2016 stood at 2.9%. The main reason for unmet medical need was that it was ‘too expensive to travel’: this reason was mostly voiced by women (3.2%), the elderly aged 65+ (6.5%), the unemployed (4.1%) and retired people (3.8%), by those with less than primary, with primary or with lower-secondary education (5.1%) and by the bottom income quintile (5.2%).
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The aim of the paper is twofold: to analyse to what extent the concept of " reconciliation betwee... more The aim of the paper is twofold: to analyse to what extent the concept of " reconciliation between professional and private life " fits into the tradition and scope of the long-term care (LTC) regimes in Europe, as well as to provide insight into the challenges of working age carers in Macedonia. The initial hypothesis of the paper is to identify whether the lack of support towards carers in some of the European long-term care regimes is associated with the tradition and/or welfare ideology in which LTC systems were created. For that purpose, a comparative analysis will be undertaken of LTC schemes in four different welfare state regimes (Esping-Andersen, 1990) i.e. in Sweden, Germa-ny, UK and Italy. The analysis will take into consideration the founding principles of the LTC regimes, welfare ideology as well as the scope of support provided to carers in the respective countries. СОЦИЈАЛНА ПОЛИТИКА број 1/2017, година 52. 10 стр. 9-26. The second part of the paper will provide insight into challenges faced by working age carers with dependent relatives in Macedonia. This country case study will provide insight into the challenges faced by the caregivers due to lack of balance between the overall package of social protection, health and employment measures. Hence, this part will try to support the evidence that in countries where labour market support of the carers' is marginalized, carers' are more vulnerable category , especially in relation to employment and decent living standards.
The paper aims to explore aspects related to the extension of the Conditional Cash Transfer
(CCT)... more The paper aims to explore aspects related to the extension of the Conditional Cash Transfer
(CCT) programme in Macedonia towards supporting young unemployed from households that
are social assistance beneficiaries. The programme itself presents a continuum of active labour
market efforts that provide direct financial support as a form of activation of the unemployed in
the country. In this respect, the paper challenges the role of direct financial transfers (microcredits,
self-employment, subsidized employments) in a socio-economic context in which there
is low economic growth, a high level of the informal economy and a low educational level of the
unemployed workforce. Under such circumstances, providing direct financial transfers, as a form
of activation, does not guarantee improved employability, a trained workforce or secure
employment. Existing studies also suggest that the application of such measures “must overcome
considerable difficulties and obstacles in a region marked by labour informality and unequal
access to opportunities” (ECLAC/ILO, 2014). Also, available evidence shows that “improving
the labour inclusion of people with low educational levels is a long-term effort in which
beneficiaries require constant psychosocial support, and that the difficulties are even greater for
women, youth and persons belonging to indigenous peoples” (OAS/ECLAC/ILO, 2011).
The paper is organized in three sections. The first section provides details on recent active
labour market programmes in Macedonia. The second section presents a conceptual insight into
existing conditional cash transfer programmes, and provides evidence about their success in the
field of employment. One of these programmes is the recent CCT incentive targeted towards
young unemployed from households that are social assistance beneficiaries. The final section
provides an overview of potential risks and threats related to the use of CCT and similar financial
transfers and presents recommendations for improved targeting of active labour market
programmes in the country.
This chapter explores the reforms adopted in the fields of social protection, employment, child p... more This chapter explores the reforms adopted in the fields of social protection, employment, child protection and social insurance in Macedonia from 2008 to 2016. During this period the ruling centre-right political party initiated many social policy projects, some of which have become larger than the previous well-established social policies. The chapter traces whether these changes in social policy have improved the outcomes for socio-economic standards, especially among the most vulnerable people. In addition, the chapter explores the main principles and approaches to the creation of social policy in Macedonia over the last decade. The analysis distinguishes whether there was a definitive shift in the creation of social policy and whether the adopted policies were path-dependent or were associated with new norms and values. The analysis shows that during the 10-year period of the VMRO-DPMNE rule, social protection was reshaped in order to serve clients that were less vulnerable than in the past. Active labour market policies (ALMPs) were designed in a way that excludes “hard to serve” clients and targeted those more easily activated among the unemployed. The introduction of arbitrary increases in welfare entitlements became a new norm. The creation of social policy throughout the period slowly dissolved into a monolithic and top-down policy process, excluding any possibility for reflection, for the use of critical approaches or for the utilisation of prior knowledge and experience
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Books by Maja Gerovska Mitev
Papers by Maja Gerovska Mitev
• effective and free access to four services: high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC); education and school-based activities; at least one healthy meal each school day; and healthcare; and
• effective access to two services: healthy nutrition and adequate housing.
The Report provides insight into aggregate developments in financing levels of social protection in North Macedonia for the period 2005-2018, as well as expenditure on separate branches or functions of social protection (pensions, health care, social assistance, unemployment assistance). The Report also comments the ESSPROS data, which are published for the first time for MK in April 2019.
(25.5%), part-time workers (24.7%), the self-employed (18.6%), and single employed persons with dependent children (30.8%). Data from the structure of earnings survey (SES) also suggest a significant incidence of low wages, with 25.1% of all employees on low wages in 2014.
Based on the statistical findings presented, it may be concluded that the key drivers and dimensions influencing IWP are: low pay, household structure and parenthood, educational attainment, and working time/type of employment contract.
In addition, the EU-SILC indicator on self-reported unmet need in the country for 2016 stood at 2.9%. The main reason for unmet medical need was that it was ‘too expensive to travel’: this reason was mostly voiced by women (3.2%), the elderly aged 65+ (6.5%), the unemployed (4.1%) and retired people (3.8%), by those with less than primary, with primary or with lower-secondary education (5.1%) and by the bottom income quintile (5.2%).
T
(CCT) programme in Macedonia towards supporting young unemployed from households that
are social assistance beneficiaries. The programme itself presents a continuum of active labour
market efforts that provide direct financial support as a form of activation of the unemployed in
the country. In this respect, the paper challenges the role of direct financial transfers (microcredits,
self-employment, subsidized employments) in a socio-economic context in which there
is low economic growth, a high level of the informal economy and a low educational level of the
unemployed workforce. Under such circumstances, providing direct financial transfers, as a form
of activation, does not guarantee improved employability, a trained workforce or secure
employment. Existing studies also suggest that the application of such measures “must overcome
considerable difficulties and obstacles in a region marked by labour informality and unequal
access to opportunities” (ECLAC/ILO, 2014). Also, available evidence shows that “improving
the labour inclusion of people with low educational levels is a long-term effort in which
beneficiaries require constant psychosocial support, and that the difficulties are even greater for
women, youth and persons belonging to indigenous peoples” (OAS/ECLAC/ILO, 2011).
The paper is organized in three sections. The first section provides details on recent active
labour market programmes in Macedonia. The second section presents a conceptual insight into
existing conditional cash transfer programmes, and provides evidence about their success in the
field of employment. One of these programmes is the recent CCT incentive targeted towards
young unemployed from households that are social assistance beneficiaries. The final section
provides an overview of potential risks and threats related to the use of CCT and similar financial
transfers and presents recommendations for improved targeting of active labour market
programmes in the country.
• effective and free access to four services: high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC); education and school-based activities; at least one healthy meal each school day; and healthcare; and
• effective access to two services: healthy nutrition and adequate housing.
The Report provides insight into aggregate developments in financing levels of social protection in North Macedonia for the period 2005-2018, as well as expenditure on separate branches or functions of social protection (pensions, health care, social assistance, unemployment assistance). The Report also comments the ESSPROS data, which are published for the first time for MK in April 2019.
(25.5%), part-time workers (24.7%), the self-employed (18.6%), and single employed persons with dependent children (30.8%). Data from the structure of earnings survey (SES) also suggest a significant incidence of low wages, with 25.1% of all employees on low wages in 2014.
Based on the statistical findings presented, it may be concluded that the key drivers and dimensions influencing IWP are: low pay, household structure and parenthood, educational attainment, and working time/type of employment contract.
In addition, the EU-SILC indicator on self-reported unmet need in the country for 2016 stood at 2.9%. The main reason for unmet medical need was that it was ‘too expensive to travel’: this reason was mostly voiced by women (3.2%), the elderly aged 65+ (6.5%), the unemployed (4.1%) and retired people (3.8%), by those with less than primary, with primary or with lower-secondary education (5.1%) and by the bottom income quintile (5.2%).
T
(CCT) programme in Macedonia towards supporting young unemployed from households that
are social assistance beneficiaries. The programme itself presents a continuum of active labour
market efforts that provide direct financial support as a form of activation of the unemployed in
the country. In this respect, the paper challenges the role of direct financial transfers (microcredits,
self-employment, subsidized employments) in a socio-economic context in which there
is low economic growth, a high level of the informal economy and a low educational level of the
unemployed workforce. Under such circumstances, providing direct financial transfers, as a form
of activation, does not guarantee improved employability, a trained workforce or secure
employment. Existing studies also suggest that the application of such measures “must overcome
considerable difficulties and obstacles in a region marked by labour informality and unequal
access to opportunities” (ECLAC/ILO, 2014). Also, available evidence shows that “improving
the labour inclusion of people with low educational levels is a long-term effort in which
beneficiaries require constant psychosocial support, and that the difficulties are even greater for
women, youth and persons belonging to indigenous peoples” (OAS/ECLAC/ILO, 2011).
The paper is organized in three sections. The first section provides details on recent active
labour market programmes in Macedonia. The second section presents a conceptual insight into
existing conditional cash transfer programmes, and provides evidence about their success in the
field of employment. One of these programmes is the recent CCT incentive targeted towards
young unemployed from households that are social assistance beneficiaries. The final section
provides an overview of potential risks and threats related to the use of CCT and similar financial
transfers and presents recommendations for improved targeting of active labour market
programmes in the country.
determination towards combating major social challenges.
Through a qualitative approach, the paper undertakes an analysis of policy documents and statistical data, and will use comparative method to assess differences and similarities between the analyzed countries.