In recent decades, European countries have experienced major transformations with the introduction of market structures within the welfare state and the emergence of welfare markets, defined as a socially oriented regulation of the market (Taylor-Gooby 1998, Nullmeier 2001). A growing number of market mechanisms has been identified across countries and sectors (Bode 2008, Gingrich 2011). This has prompted research to go beyond the dichotomy of market/non market and study how market actors interact with pre-existing institutions and are shaped by industrial relations or gender regimes. Market-oriented social policies have been introduced through traditional policy instruments such as direct expenses but also through “new” ones like contracts, checks, tax breaks…

These market creating policy changes have already been studied by analyzing the role of different political parties and governmental strategies. Yet the role played by other actors before and after policy changes has been neglected. This panel will question how welfare markets can create, empower or endanger different actors and collective action in this context. Panel members will present case studies and comparative research in different sectors including health care and care systems, as well as domestic work. They will analyse how collective actions are deployed in the context of welfare markets and how these markets impact existing organisations such as trade unions, employers' organizations, public organizations and administrations but also NGOS, churches, and "experts". The panel will also consider the ways in which these actors try to shape mass publics and their attitude towards welfare markets through the media.