FROM A BEAUTIFUL SWAN TO AN UGLY DUCKLING: THE RENEWAL OF DANISH ACTIVATION POLICY SINCE 2003

The adoption of activation policies has resulted in a common European interpretative framework, and major reforms of welfare and labour market systems have materialised. The search for good examples is widespread. Denmark is still regarded as a role model for innovative activation policy, as described in the European Employment Strategy, and is treated as the exemplar for 'flexicurity' systems. Changes in Danish activation policy during recent years have, however, transformed both the content and the governance structure in a path-breaking way into a more 'work first'-based system. A typology of policy changes is used analytically to characterise the developments in, and strategies behind, the Danish transformation of its labour market policies. The transformations recorded bear witness to a stronger convergence with Europe with respect to policy objectives, instruments, and outcomes.