Dutch gov’t needs broader perspective on social security, think tanks say

Independent government think tanks in the Netherlands are urging policymakers to adopt a broader framework for social security, one that considers more than just income, according to a new joint study by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), and the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB).

The study highlights that social security depends on multiple factors beyond earnings. Poor health, low literacy, and unsafe living environments can all undermine people’s economic and social stability. According to the study, adopting a broad welfare perspective could enable more targeted, coherent policy decisions. .

The think tanks argue that examining social security through this “broad welfare perspective” clarifies where policy intervention is most needed. By systematically considering multiple factors that affect well-being, policymakers can identify gaps that income-based approaches alone may overlook.

According to the think tanks, implementing this perspective requires explicit value judgments about what constitutes a minimum standard of living.

The report also emphasizes that collaboration across policy domains is essential to address social security comprehensively—a coordination that is currently not standard practice.