The present paper discusses an innovative principle, denominated of decommodification, formulated recently by Esping-Andersen (1990, 1999 2002) and incorporated to the study of social policies. The author's main proposition, through the term decommodification, consists of evaluating the degree of autonomy and independence of individuals in relation to market. The essential conclusions from this analysis evidence a singular and innovative contribution, when emphasizing the importance of the institutional arrangements of the social policies, considering not only rights and warranties, but, above all, the interlacement of the State with market and family in the provision of social policies.
decommodification; social policies; social protection; Welfare States
