Social rights and spatial access to local social services: The role of structural conditions in access to local social services in Estonia

Kriisk and Minas examine the role of structural conditions in access to local social services in Estonia. The study analyses access to local social services and the impact that the structural conditions of Estonian municipalities have on it. They will analyse the impact of local conditions, using indicators like remoteness, resources and spending, on the extent of and the additional demand for local social services. They include all social services in Estonia, which the municipalities are expected to finance and administer locally, and where local authorities have full discretion to decide to whom, how and by whom these services are delivered. Empirical data on the extent of and additional demand for social services comes from a survey among local social workers, whereas data on structural conditions derives from Statistics Estonia and Ministry of Finance.