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Social security for China’s rural aged: a proposal based on a universal non-contributory pension
- Authors:
- YANG Yinan, WILLIAMSON John B., SHEN Ce
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 19(2), April 2010, pp.236-245.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
China’s old-age social security system has long been largely restricted to urban areas. This exacerbates the already severe rural–urban economic disparity, slows the rate of rural poverty reduction, poses a threat to social stability, and raises social justice concerns. This analysis draws on evidence from a number of sources including interviews with experts on China, Chinese government documents, Chinese newspaper accounts, and other sources from other countries. Based on the analysis of what has been tried in other countries and the current situation in rural China, this paper offers some suggestions for Chinese policy makers. It suggests that, for rural China, a universal non-contributory old-age pension deserves serious consideration, and refers to a proposed model as a Rural Old-Age Social Pension. It proposes an annual benefit level for each pensioner set at 4% of China’s GDP per capita, but suggests that it could first be introduced at a lower level and at a relatively high age of eligibility. The proposed model will reduce the level of poverty in rural areas and the degree of income inequality between rural and urban areas while simultaneously promoting social and political stability.
The pensions dilemma
- Author:
- JOHNSON Paul
- Publisher:
- Institute for Public Policy Research
- Publication year:
- 1994
- Pagination:
- 31p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Chapter 1 explains the recent history and current system of pension provision; chapter 2 describes the problems which have led to recent debate; chapter 3 looks at the economics of pension provision; and chapters 4, 5 and 6 outline proposals for reform.
Sustainability and adequacy of pensions in EU countries: a cross-national perspective
- Author:
- ZAIDI Asghar
- Publisher:
- European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 17p.
- Place of publication:
- Vienna
The impact of European Union (EU) national government economic and social policies on pension systems and pension income adequacy for future pensioners is examined in this paper. It begins by setting the context, highlighting sustainability challenges arising from population ageing and the financial, fiscal and economic crises. It analyses the impact of pension reforms, including benefit ratio changes (the likely development of the relative value of the average pension relative to the likely evolution of the average wage). It discusses how pension reforms have reshaped the structure of pension systems across EU countries and the adequacy of pension incomes of future retirees (including expected changes in the average first pension as a proportion of the average wage). It concludes by discussing policy challenges faced by EU countries in ensuring sustainability of pension systems and maintaining adequacy of pension incomes.
Older people, pensions and poverty: an issue for social workers?
- Author:
- FOSTER Liam
- Journal article citation:
- International Social Work, 54(3), May 2011, pp.344-360.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Individual quality of life in retirement is affected by material circumstances. Therefore, pension provision will have a significant impact for older people, and may affect peoples’ need for assistance through social services. Therefore, government pension policy requires considerable attention. This article examines the relationship between social work, poverty and social policy. It shows how the social, economic and political context within which older service users live is crucial to their experience of successful ageing. The article then considers the link between poverty in older age and pension receipt and the role of social policy formulation in the UK with particular reference to New Labour governance. Pension policy in the UK is then examined within a European context. In ending, the article considers whether pension poverty levels are likely to change under the new government.
Issues and challenges facing population ageing in Korea: productivity, economic growth and old-age income security
- Author:
- PHANG Hanam
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Comparative Social Welfare, 27(1), February 2011, pp.51-62.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article critically reviews issues and challenges facing population ageing in Korea, focusing on productivity change, economic growth, and old-age income security. To that end, trends and prospects of population ageing in Korea are first presented and, then, their impacts on economic growth, employment of the old-aged, and old-age income security are discussed. Policy measures and initiatives needed to cope with the challenges are discussed to conclude the paper.
Building a society for all ages
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 59p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In 2007 for the first time in the UK there were more people over State Pension age than children. This document was developed to ensure that as a society we are able to make the most of the demographic change. This will require a major cultural shift, where people are not defined by their age. This strategy sets out a programme of action to support the changes for individuals, families, the workplace, economy, public services and communities. Contents include: improving later life today; the challenge ahead, and a vision for the future; having the life you want; older people at the heart of families; engaging with work and the economy; improving financial support; better public services for later life; building communities for all ages.
Contested universalism: from Bonosol to Renta Dignidad in Bolivia
- Author:
- MULLER Katharina
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 18(2), April 2009, pp.163-172.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Bolivia is the only Latin American country to feature a universal old-age pension scheme. Though strikingly modest, originating at US$248 per annum, this benefit runs counter to the prevailing targeting paradigm. Ten years after the scheme's controversial start in South America's poorest country, this article is the first to focus on the interesting political economy of the universal benefit. The introduction of the benefit was not motivated by social policy considerations but by the desire to privatise state-owned enterprises and pensions. Conceived by neoliberal structural reformers, the benefit was challenged first by the international financial institutions and then by Bolivia's developmentalist government, before the latter found a way to reconcile its re-nationalisation project with a re-branded universal pension.
Working after state pension age: qualitative research
- Authors:
- BARNES Helen, PARRY Jane, TAYLOR Rebecca
- Publisher:
- Corporate Document Services; Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 81p.
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
The study reported on here examines the processes involved in individual decision-making around retirement, the existence of group norms about working after State Pension Age, and the relative importance of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors. The research also addresses the ways in which policy could support individual choices about employment in later life, and identifies a number of distinctive subgroups within the older population who would benefit from targeted policy support.
Sharing in the nation's prosperity?: pensioner poverty in Britain
- Authors:
- GOODMAN Alissa, MYCK Michal, SHEPARD Andrew
- Publisher:
- Institute for Fiscal Studies
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 54p.,tables.
- Place of publication:
- London
The government has redistributed significant resources towards pensioners with the aim of ‘abolishing pensioner poverty’. The overall 1997–2004 policy package directed at changing pensioner incomes increases them in total by about £7 billion per year, of which about £4.1 billion should have fed through to the latest poverty statistics. Resulting falls in pensioner poverty, measured in relative terms, have not been as substantial as some might have expected. The main reason why relative poverty has not fallen further is that the median income across the whole population has risen, and thus so has the relative poverty line.
Planning your pension
- Author:
- WARD Sue
- Publisher:
- Kogan Page
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 195p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This work provides a layperson's guide to the complexities of pension provision and the options avalible. The author's advice is intended to give any individual the advantage of being informed about the choices open to them. The contents include: the state pensions scheme; the different types of pension schemes (run by the employer, personal, stakeholder); contracting out of SERPs and the S2Ps; the legal rules; changing the scheme; negotiating the package; information for members; the role of the trustees; what happens to the money; safeguarding the benefits; and what to do if things go wrong.