Multi-level governance and universalism: Austria and Germany compared

Purpose - The paper compares the introduction of universal long-term care schemes and the regulations of migrant care work within the framework of multi-level governance in Austria and Germany. The aim of the paper is twofold. First, it reveals the characteristics of country-specific universal policy schemes and second, it explains their designs - the new type of universalism and its completion by regulations of migrant care work within the family framework - by the policy-making process.Design methodology approach - Conceptually, the paper combines approaches within long-term care research to define dimensions of universalism, as well as on multi-level governance and new-institutionalism to examine the policy-making process. Empirically, Austria and Germany are selected as two cases.Findings - The findings reveal the significant dimensions of the new type of universalist policy design and of policies towards migrant care work. The country differences are explained by the policy-making process within countries and with cross-border effects. In particular, the impact of the disability movement in Austria and the coalition between the political parties in Germany resulted in a country-specific definition of universalism. The integrated approach towards migrant care work in Austria is contrasted with the fragmented approach in Germany. In both countries, the regulations of migrant care work question the idea of universalism.Originality value - The impact of societal actors and their ideas on the creation of a new type of universalism and the interrelated regulation of migrant care work has only rarely been examined. The analysis contributes to an understanding of the policy-making process and its interrelationship with selected policy designs.