Technical University of Liberec
Study programmes & Course catalogue
for academic year 2025/2026
Technical University of Liberec
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Course: Introduction to Social Policy

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Course title Introduction to Social Policy
Course code KSY/USP-E
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction English, English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements Course does not contain work placement
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Öhm Jan, Ing. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Social risks and their coverage in a market economy. 2. Solidarity. Differences in the concept of continental Europe and the Anglo-American world. 3. Globalization. Concept and definition. Implications for social policy. 4. Models of the Welfare State. 5. The problems of the welfare state and its erosion. Causes, consequences. Low productivity of the service sector, flexibilization of work and family. 6. Basic concept and structure of old-age pensions.Basic concept and structure of survivor's pensions. 7. Basic concept and structure of disability pensions. 8. Basic concept and structure of family benefits. 9. Basic concept of health care system. 10. Educational Policy. 11. Concept and structure of unemployment benefits. 12. Concept of state social benefits. 13. Premiums on social security and their relation to taxation. 14. Alternative routes and other proposals.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monological explanation (lecture, presentation,briefing)
  • Class attendance - 26 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The aim of Introduction to Social Security is to acquaint the students with elementary problems and social welfare principles and clarify particular methods of social security implementation in the Czech Republic and in selected countries. Students get knowledge of history, the present state and development tendency of social security in the Czech Republic and in the member countries of the European Union.
Students obtain knowledge in this object in conformity with aim and content.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of insurance issues.

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam

Exam: oral (min. 65 %), semestral project (presentation+paper)
Recommended literature
  • AFHELDT, H. Wirtschaft, die arm macht: vom Sozialstaat zur gespaltenen Gesellschaft. 1. Aufl. München: Kunstmann Verlag, 2003. ISBN 978-3-88897-344-4..
  • BRDEK, M., JÍROVÁ, H. a KREBS, V. Trendy v evropské sociální politice. 1. vyd. Praha: ASPI Publishing, s. r. o., 2002. 252 s. ISBN 80-86395-25-1..
  • BROWN, C. V., JACKSON, P. M. Public Sector Economics. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1994..
  • KELLER, J. Soumrak sociálního státu. Praha: Slon, 2006. 158 s. ISBN 80-86429-41-5..
  • KREBS, V. Sociální politika. Praha: Aspi, 2007. 503 s. ISBN 80-7357-276-1..
  • ORSZAG, P., STIGLITZ, J. Rethinking Pension Reform: Ten Myths About Social Security Systems. In New Ideas about Old Age Security: Toward Sustainable Pension Systems in the 21st Century. Washington, DC: World Bank, 1999.
  • ROSANVALLON, P. The New Social Question: Rethinking the Welfare State. 1st ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-691-01640-5..
  • STIGLITZ, J. Economics of the Public Sector. 3rd ed., New York: W. W. Norton, 2000. 823 pgs. ISBN 0-393-96651-8.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Technical University of Liberec, date of update: 15.02.2026 23:50. Data created for academic year 2025/2026