The analysis presented in this paper compares average incomes and income inequalities of retired and non-retired households, looking at the effect that different sources of income and other characteristics such as type of household, age, ethnicity, employment status and housing tenure have on a pensioner household's position. It then looks at pensioner poverty, including the official measure of poverty, which is based on a proportion of contemporary median income, and alternative measures including attempts to establish minimum income standards, measures of material deprivation and measures based on expenditure.
The analysis presented in this paper compares average incomes and income inequalities of retired and non-retired households, looking at the effect that different sources of income and other characteristics such as type of household, age, ethnicity, employment status and housing tenure have on a pensioner household's position. It then looks at pensioner poverty, including the official measure of poverty, which is based on a proportion of contemporary median income, and alternative measures including attempts to establish minimum income standards, measures of material deprivation and measures based on expenditure.
Journal of European Social Policy, 7(3), August 1997, pp.237-253.
Publisher:
Sage
This article looks at the pattern of EU pension provision, as it currently exists, highlighting recent and possible future developments and the reasons for these. It then describes and evaluates the two notions of pensions equality prevalent in the debate in the light of current and possible future trends in EU pension reform.
This article looks at the pattern of EU pension provision, as it currently exists, highlighting recent and possible future developments and the reasons for these. It then describes and evaluates the two notions of pensions equality prevalent in the debate in the light of current and possible future trends in EU pension reform.
Subject terms:
men, pensions, sex discrimination, women, equal opportunities;
Journal of European Social Policy, 6(2), 1996, pp.123-146.
Publisher:
Sage
The European Union plays an important part in the equal treatment for men and women. This article focuses on six recent cases brought before the European Court of Justice: Vroege, Fissher, Van den Akker, Smith, Beune and Coloroll. In ten topics, the authors investigate the extent to which the ambiguities and questions have been resolved. They examine the criteria for pension schemes to fall within the scope of Article 199 of the EC Treaty. Other topics concern the retirement ages and their equalisation. actuarial factors, pension trustees, etc. Finally, they discuss an important recent phenomenon: the possibility of positive discrimination or preferential treatment and the measures which are likely to qualify as such.
The European Union plays an important part in the equal treatment for men and women. This article focuses on six recent cases brought before the European Court of Justice: Vroege, Fissher, Van den Akker, Smith, Beune and Coloroll. In ten topics, the authors investigate the extent to which the ambiguities and questions have been resolved. They examine the criteria for pension schemes to fall within the scope of Article 199 of the EC Treaty. Other topics concern the retirement ages and their equalisation. actuarial factors, pension trustees, etc. Finally, they discuss an important recent phenomenon: the possibility of positive discrimination or preferential treatment and the measures which are likely to qualify as such.
Subject terms:
pensions, sex discrimination, social policy, women, discrimination, equal opportunities, gender;
Social Policy and Society, 3(4), October 2004, pp.353-363.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Declining state provision, low levels of financial capability, and, it must be added, regulation on savings and investments have impacted severely on the ability of some sections of the UK population to purchase life assurance and savings products. In addition, according to a report submitted to the Treasury, ‘there is a wide consensus that the UK population is not saving enough for retirement. Savings levels are 20 per cent or more below what they should be. The problem appears to be particularly acute amongst the less affluent, where insufficient levels of saving are likely to have a more serious impact’. This is due in no small part to current banking and insurance practices that have excluded many of the least affluent customers from essential financial services, that afford them the protection of: financial security for a rainy day; greater comfort during retirement and old age; and access to greater independence and opportunity throughout their lives. Ideally for less affluent consumers, product design should incorporate simplicity and transparency, preferably offer automatic savings of small amounts weekly or fortnightly and be flexible enough for payments to be suspended during times of financial hardship without incurring penalties.
Declining state provision, low levels of financial capability, and, it must be added, regulation on savings and investments have impacted severely on the ability of some sections of the UK population to purchase life assurance and savings products. In addition, according to a report submitted to the Treasury, ‘there is a wide consensus that the UK population is not saving enough for retirement. Savings levels are 20 per cent or more below what they should be. The problem appears to be particularly acute amongst the less affluent, where insufficient levels of saving are likely to have a more serious impact’. This is due in no small part to current banking and insurance practices that have excluded many of the least affluent customers from essential financial services, that afford them the protection of: financial security for a rainy day; greater comfort during retirement and old age; and access to greater independence and opportunity throughout their lives. Ideally for less affluent consumers, product design should incorporate simplicity and transparency, preferably offer automatic savings of small amounts weekly or fortnightly and be flexible enough for payments to be suspended during times of financial hardship without incurring penalties.
Subject terms:
income, pensions, retirement, social exclusion, social policy, socioeconomic groups, economics, equal opportunities;
This report says that the Government proposals to tackle ageism at work will not do enough to challenge age stereotypes and enable people to continue working. The new law, which will allow people to challenge age discrimination, would put the burden on older people to ‘complain their way to equality’. Employers will not have a duty, as they do for ethnic minorities, to take active steps to promote equality. Currently the average retirement age is only 61, but average life expectancy is 77 and rising. By 2014 there will be more people over 65 than under 16. One third of people over 50 but below state pension age are not in work. The Government should consult on proposals for extending the proposed age discrimination law to cover public services. The law should include a responsibility on employers and public services to promote age equality. The private sector, where 82.5 per cent of people work, should be subject to a light touch reporting mechanism on the steps they have taken. Mandatory retirement should be unlawful at any age, except in exceptional circumstances. The proposed new equality commission should also provide guidance to public services on those human rights that matter most to older people: the right to privacy and to family life and the avoidance of degrading treatment. Provision must be made before 2006 to provide guidance for employers on the substantial changes needed in culture and procedures at work; and subsequently for older people on their rights and new opportunities open to them.
This report says that the Government proposals to tackle ageism at work will not do enough to challenge age stereotypes and enable people to continue working. The new law, which will allow people to challenge age discrimination, would put the burden on older people to ‘complain their way to equality’. Employers will not have a duty, as they do for ethnic minorities, to take active steps to promote equality. Currently the average retirement age is only 61, but average life expectancy is 77 and rising. By 2014 there will be more people over 65 than under 16. One third of people over 50 but below state pension age are not in work. The Government should consult on proposals for extending the proposed age discrimination law to cover public services. The law should include a responsibility on employers and public services to promote age equality. The private sector, where 82.5 per cent of people work, should be subject to a light touch reporting mechanism on the steps they have taken. Mandatory retirement should be unlawful at any age, except in exceptional circumstances. The proposed new equality commission should also provide guidance to public services on those human rights that matter most to older people: the right to privacy and to family life and the avoidance of degrading treatment. Provision must be made before 2006 to provide guidance for employers on the substantial changes needed in culture and procedures at work; and subsequently for older people on their rights and new opportunities open to them.
These Regulations, which are made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68), amend the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 ("the principal Regulations"). They do so in order to implement (in relation to trustees and managers of occupational pension schemes in Great Britain) Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27th November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment (OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p.16) so far as it relates to discrimination on grounds of religion or belief. The principal Regulations make it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of religion or belief in employment and vocational training, and come into force on 2nd December 2003.
These Regulations, which are made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68), amend the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 ("the principal Regulations"). They do so in order to implement (in relation to trustees and managers of occupational pension schemes in Great Britain) Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27th November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment (OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p.16) so far as it relates to discrimination on grounds of religion or belief. The principal Regulations make it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of religion or belief in employment and vocational training, and come into force on 2nd December 2003.
Increased life expectancy, growing public awareness of private pension risks and declining state pensions have all fuelled a sense of crisis in current pension policy. An emerging consensus sees British pension policy as unravelling. Yet the gender impact of expanding private pension provision and relying increasingly on means-testing has been largely overlooked. This book examines how shifting
Increased life expectancy, growing public awareness of private pension risks and declining state pensions have all fuelled a sense of crisis in current pension policy. An emerging consensus sees British pension policy as unravelling. Yet the gender impact of expanding private pension provision and relying increasingly on means-testing has been largely overlooked. This book examines how shifting gender relations in successive cohorts interact with pension reforms, raising questions about distributional equity in the context of gendered familial responsibilities. New patterns of pension advantage are emerging, influenced by partnership status, parenthood, class and ethnicity.
Subject terms:
life expectancy, older people, pensions, social policy, socioeconomic groups, demographics, eligibility criteria, families, equal opportunities, ethnicity;
Ageing International, 24(4), Spring 1998, pp.101-121.
Publisher:
Springer
Place of publication:
New York
... Finally, the effect of recent and proposed retrenchment of public pensions on older women in the future is assessed.
In this article the author examines existing gender inequality of pension income and the likely impact of state welfare retrenchment on older women in the future. Gender inequality of pension income in European is first reviewed briefly. Then, the sources of cross-country variation in older women's pension disadvantage are considered, using a four-fold typology of European pension systems. Finally, the effect of recent and proposed retrenchment of public pensions on older women in the future is assessed.
Scandinavian Journal of Social Welfare, 6(3), July 1997, pp.162-167.
Publisher:
Munksgaard/ Blackwell
... within the generational contract. On the one hand, cuts to pensions and services are seen to be economically inevitable. On the other, it is argued that modern retirement breaches the compact between the generations and will need to be reformulated, enabling more people to earn income will beyond current retirement ages.
Starting from an examination of the essential components of the long-established contract between the generations, this analysis moves on to examine public policy responses to the ageing of populations. Observing an international inclination to panic at the growth of old age and to restrict expenditure on services to older people, the article addresses practical questions of political economy within the generational contract. On the one hand, cuts to pensions and services are seen to be economically inevitable. On the other, it is argued that modern retirement breaches the compact between the generations and will need to be reformulated, enabling more people to earn income will beyond current retirement ages.
... people; new changes in incomes, benefits and pensions; new changes in long-term care and support; and the implications of the economic crisis. Part 1 of the report considers social inclusion plans; part 2 considers incomes, pensions and benefits; and part 3 considers care and support. The report concludes with some recommendations.
This report reviews national implementation in Malta of European Union social inclusion and social protection strategies, with particular reference to equality for disabled people. It is one of a series reviewing national implementation of the open method of coordination in social inclusion and social protection, and in particular the National Strategic Reports of member states from a disability equality perspective. A main aim is to provide the Commission with useful evidence in supporting disability policy mainstreaming. The first version of the report was published in 2008; this second version is updated with information available up to November 2009. It summarises changes since the 2008 report in the areas of: housing and homelessness; new strategies and actions for the inclusion of disabled people; new changes in incomes, benefits and pensions; new changes in long-term care and support; and the implications of the economic crisis. Part 1 of the report considers social inclusion plans; part 2 considers incomes, pensions and benefits; and part 3 considers care and support. The report concludes with some recommendations.
Subject terms:
housing, low income, pensions, policy formulation, social inclusion, social policy, social welfare, benefits, disabilities, equal opportunities, European Union;