New government's promises hard to keep, could increase inequality, SCP warns
The Jetten I Cabinet made several major promises in its coalition agreement that will be hard, if not impossible, to fulfil, the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP) said after analyzing the plans of the D66, VVD, and CDA. It mentioned promises on healthcare and asylum, specifically. The institute also warned that the planned budget cuts threaten to hit already vulnerable groups harder, leading to an increase in inequality.
According to SCP director Karen van Oudenhoven, the coalition agreement shows “the clear ambition to tackle major social challenges.” The minority government is addressing citizens’ concerns with additional funding for security, housing, the economy, and education. But the institute repeated its warning that not fulfilling promises is risky at a time when Netherlands residents already have very little trust in politics.
In healthcare, the coalition wants to mitigate the consequences of a higher healthcare deductible by focusing on “prevention is better than cure.” The new government hopes that more attention to children’s health, encouraging exercise, and making healthy choices financially attractive will mean that people need less care, or none at all. Therefore, they won’t need to pay all of the higher deductible.
The SCP said that this “may be effective in the long term,” but “it offers a limited answer to problems that arise here and now.” The current pressing problems are mainly due to the aging population, which is rapidly increasing the demand for healthcare. Healthier choices won’t help with that in the short term.
The institute also raised concerns about the new government’s plans to reduce the number of asylum seekers, partly by implementing the previous government’s Asylum Emergency Measures Act. According to the SCP, the idea that this will help in the short term is also unrealistic. The new coalition also did not make clear how it plans to fulfill its promise to reduce low-paid labor migration.
The SCP also warned that the minority government may not be doing enough to protect vulnerable groups in society. “Measures related to healthcare, social security, and working longer, in particular, can increase inequality,” director Van Oudenhoven said.
The SCP acknowledged that the coalition plans provide support for the chronically ill and people living in poverty. However, there is “limited attention” to the broader consequences of policy. Few would dispute that the healthcare and social security systems are too complex and need simplification, the institute said. But simplification often leads to aid being less targeted at those who need it most.
