Research project The project examines how the design of oversight within social and unemployment insurance affects the independence and accountability of the Swedish Social Insurance Inspectorate and the Swedish Unemployment Insurance Inspectorate.
The project is interdisciplinary and examines how the design of oversight within social and unemployment insurance affects the independence and accountability of the Swedish Social Insurance Inspectorate (ISF) and the Swedish Unemployment Insurance Inspectorate (IAF). The focus is on the weaker form of systemic oversight that lacks sanctioning authority and is characterised by a more horisontal relationship between the inspector and the inspected. The role of ISF’s and IAF’s oversight strategies in policy development and accountability is analysed.
The project, led by PhD in Public Administration Angelica Börjesson, aims to examine how the design of oversight within social and unemployment insurance affects the independence of oversight authorities in relation to those being supervised, as well as how accountability is achieved. The area is examined through a softer form of systemic oversight, which is under-researched despite being the primary form of supervision for two of Sweden’s largest welfare institutions: the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) and the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen).
Systemic oversight differs from other forms of oversight in that the relationship between the inspector and the inspected can be more horisontal, and in some respects, the inspector may be in a dependent position to those being examined. The project therefore explores both the oversight strategies and relationships that arise within this weaker form of oversight and whether these strategies foster a policy community or enable accountability.
The project is carried out through a comparative case study of the Swedish Social Insurance Inspectorate (ISF) and the Swedish Unemployment Insurance Inspectorate (IAF) and their systemic oversight of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and the Public Employment Service. Although ISF and IAF oversee two central welfare systems, their role as potential influencers of policy development has not been explored. There is also a lack of knowledge about how this weaker form of oversight affects the relationship with the supervised and accountability.
The project addresses three main questions:
1. What oversight strategies are used in state systemic oversight to create compliance among the supervised?
2. How do the strategies differ between social insurance and unemployment insurance, and what accounts for these differences?
3. How do different oversight strategies contribute to a policy community and opportunities for accountability?
The project takes an interdisciplinary approach, considering both legal and formal aspects as well as organisational cultural factors as possible explanations for the choice of oversight strategies and their impact on policy community and accountability. Additionally, it investigates whether differences in the agencies' mandates affect their oversight strategies.
