Spain - Poverty, social exclusion and "safety nets"

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in Welfare State Reform in Southern Europe: Fighting Poverty and Social Exclusion in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece on 2005, available online: https://www.routledge.com/Welfare-State-Reform-in-Southern-Europe-Fighting-Poverty-and-Social-Exclusion/Ferrera/p/book/9780415479820".In this chapter developments in Spanish welfare concerned with policies of poverty alleviation and programs combating social exclusion are analyzed. Core areas of observation are the so-called ‘safety nets’ of social protection, which have been ‘under construction’ in Spain during the last 15 years.In the following section a review of the historical background to the development of social policies in Spain is carried out. The evolution of poverty alleviation programs is examined within the broader Spanish welfare state framework. A special reference is made on the creation of regional systems of social services and the development of programs of social assistance by both central and regional layers of government. After analyzing the compound nature of the Spanish ‘safety nets’, the third section concentrates on the latest developments and initiatives undertaken with reference to the 2001-2003 National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAPSI). In the light of the Spanish experience, it is concluded that more attention is to be paid on the increasing role of regional and local layers of government. These, in concurrence with central institutions of EU institutions and of member states, are key actors in order to promote social inclusion of those precarious citizens facing poverty or social exclusion.This chapter is based in previous texts elaborated by both authors during the research activities carried out for the European project, FIPOSC (Fighting Poverty and Social Exclusion in Southern Europe, Research Directorate General, European Commission, HPSE-CT-2001-60020). We also thank the Spanish Secretary of State for Education and Universities (PR2002-0200) and the Region of Madrid (Dirección General de Investigación de la Consejería de Educación, Programa de Becas Posdoctorales) for financial support.Peer reviewe