Social Policy and Society, 11(1), January 2012, pp.41-53.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
The public pension system is one of the major components of the welfare state in Europe. However, the extent to which public pensions are seen as a means of social and economic equality varies remarkability from country to country. Current pension benefits are mainly the legacy of decisions and arrangements made by political forces in power in the post-war years. The aim of this study of Ageing. The study analyses the mix of public and private pensions and considers the impact of different policies on poverty rates amongst pensioners. The findings suggest that only a few European countries have been successful in providing combinations of private and public pensions that improve the adequacy of retirement income.
The public pension system is one of the major components of the welfare state in Europe. However, the extent to which public pensions are seen as a means of social and economic equality varies remarkability from country to country. Current pension benefits are mainly the legacy of decisions and arrangements made by political forces in power in the post-war years. The aim of this study is to explore the link between pension systems belonging to different welfare models and the adequacy of retirement income. The countries used in the analysis are all part of the European Union: Austria; Belgium; Denmark; France; Germany; Greece; the Netherlands; Spain; Sweden; and the UK. Data is taken from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The study analyses the mix of public and private pensions and considers the impact of different policies on poverty rates amongst pensioners. The findings suggest that only a few European countries have been successful in providing combinations of private and public pensions that improve the adequacy of retirement income.
Journal of Comparative Social Welfare, 24(2), October 2008, pp.191-198.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Path-breaking reform measures have been launched recently to reform the retirement protection systems in both Hong Kong and urban China. In 2000, the Hong Kong government introduced the first compulsory retirement saving scheme intended to protect the entire workforce-the Mandatory Provident Fund. Since the early 1980s, the Chinese government has been attempting to develop a multi-pillar pension system to replace its previous pension system dominated by the State-owned Enterprises in urban China. This paper is intended to show that, despite these measures, the concept of path dependence has relevance to these reforms in Hong Kong and urban China. To meet this objective, the article discusses some significant similarities and differences of the causes, key features of the reforms in these two locations, and how these differences are related to the two governments' attempts to address their earlier ways of providing welfare for retirees.
Path-breaking reform measures have been launched recently to reform the retirement protection systems in both Hong Kong and urban China. In 2000, the Hong Kong government introduced the first compulsory retirement saving scheme intended to protect the entire workforce-the Mandatory Provident Fund. Since the early 1980s, the Chinese government has been attempting to develop a multi-pillar pension system to replace its previous pension system dominated by the State-owned Enterprises in urban China. This paper is intended to show that, despite these measures, the concept of path dependence has relevance to these reforms in Hong Kong and urban China. To meet this objective, the article discusses some significant similarities and differences of the causes, key features of the reforms in these two locations, and how these differences are related to the two governments' attempts to address their earlier ways of providing welfare for retirees.
... perceptions across both countries, by acknowledging the need to save for retirement and the insecurity of future state pensions. The findings also show that English respondents make use of private saving for their retirement significantly more than their Italian counterparts.
Increasing longevity and falling fertility rates have prompted European policymakers to shift the responsibility for retirement funding to individuals. Governments, independently of their political ideologies, are committed to sustainable pension systems by encouraging private saving for retirement. This article uses a quantitative approach to investigate individual saving behaviour in Italy and in the UK and present evidence of the factors determining saving for retirement in the two countries. It questions whether differences in pension policies and attitudes are accentuated or lessened by common demographic and social factors and examine the possibility of cross-national saving policies. The analysis suggests that cohorts identified by homogeneous demographic features present converging perceptions across both countries, by acknowledging the need to save for retirement and the insecurity of future state pensions. The findings also show that English respondents make use of private saving for their retirement significantly more than their Italian counterparts.
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Publisher:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Publication year:
2007
Pagination:
204p.
Place of publication:
Paris
Government-mandated pension and retirement policies have changed dramatically during the past decade. Pensions at a Glance presents a consistent framework for comparing public-pension policies across OECD countries, as well as reliable data. The report thus provides the basis for not only evaluating existing pension systems, but also designing and implementing future reforms. This second edition
Government-mandated pension and retirement policies have changed dramatically during the past decade. Pensions at a Glance presents a consistent framework for comparing public-pension policies across OECD countries, as well as reliable data. The report thus provides the basis for not only evaluating existing pension systems, but also designing and implementing future reforms. This second edition updates in-depth information on the key features of mandatory pension systems—both public and private--in the 30 OECD countries, including projections of retirement income for today’s workers.
Subject terms:
pensions, retirement, comparative studies, government policy;
International Journal of Social Welfare, 16(4), October 2007, pp.367-372.
Publisher:
Wiley
This article examines the role played by the low-skilled immigrant labour force in countries aiming to reform their public pension systems by postponing the pensionable age. With an overlapping-generations model in continuous time and a fully redistributive pension system, the results of this article suggest that immigration could imply a delay in the pensionable retirement age. Further, the results found that the preference for a delay in retirement age increases with the labour productivity of both immigrants and native population.
This article examines the role played by the low-skilled immigrant labour force in countries aiming to reform their public pension systems by postponing the pensionable age. With an overlapping-generations model in continuous time and a fully redistributive pension system, the results of this article suggest that immigration could imply a delay in the pensionable retirement age. Further, the results found that the preference for a delay in retirement age increases with the labour productivity of both immigrants and native population.
Corporate Document Services; Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
Publication year:
2006
Pagination:
95p., bibliog.
Place of publication:
Leeds
This report evaluates the success of a pilot scheme announced in the 2004 Pensions Green Paper, 'Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement'. The scheme mandates participation in an 'Intensive Activity Period' for older New Dealers, which is presently voluntary. An IAP involves a variety of assistance (training, work experience etc) lasting 13 to 52 weeks. The interim
This report evaluates the success of a pilot scheme announced in the 2004 Pensions Green Paper, 'Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement'. The scheme mandates participation in an 'Intensive Activity Period' for older New Dealers, which is presently voluntary. An IAP involves a variety of assistance (training, work experience etc) lasting 13 to 52 weeks. The interim results show that the probability of moving on to employment is slightly higher for those mandated to participate than those who aren't, although the results are not particularly strong overall. The authors suggest two recommendations for how the scheme might be improved before its conclusion in 2008.
Pension Trends provides a statistical backdrop for the debate on pensions. It looks at both economic and social factors that influence changes in pension provision and pension income over time. The overall scene is set by chapters on the development of pension legislation, and on demographic factors - in particular the ageing population and improvements in life expectancy that affect the demand
Pension Trends provides a statistical backdrop for the debate on pensions. It looks at both economic and social factors that influence changes in pension provision and pension income over time. The overall scene is set by chapters on the development of pension legislation, and on demographic factors - in particular the ageing population and improvements in life expectancy that affect the demand for all types of pension provision. In the rest of the publication, pension issues are explored from the perspectives first of the individual, then business and finally government. Labour market trends, current pensioner incomes, expectations of retirement, state and private provision, contributions, the ways that future pensioners are building pension entitlements or planning retirement incomes, pension providers and pension fund investment are just some of the many issues covered in this first edition of Pension Trends.
Revija Za Socijalnu Politiku Journal of Social Policy, 13(2), 2006, pp.127-150.
Publisher:
University of Zagreb
The central part of this paper presents a projection of the trends in the number of retired persons and active insured persons in Croatia up to 2031. Based on the age structure of retired persons in 2001 and the set hypotheses on the future influx of pensioners, the trend of the number of retired persons has been projected up to 2031. In accordance with the expected changes in the economic structure of the population in European countries up to 2031, the hypothesis has been set in three variants of the rate of the economic activity of the work contingent. Thus the projected number of potential active insured persons in Croatia was obtained, as well as the ratio between them and the number of retired persons. [Article in Croatian].
The central part of this paper presents a projection of the trends in the number of retired persons and active insured persons in Croatia up to 2031. Based on the age structure of retired persons in 2001 and the set hypotheses on the future influx of pensioners, the trend of the number of retired persons has been projected up to 2031. In accordance with the expected changes in the economic structure of the population in European countries up to 2031, the hypothesis has been set in three variants of the rate of the economic activity of the work contingent. Thus the projected number of potential active insured persons in Croatia was obtained, as well as the ratio between them and the number of retired persons. [Article in Croatian].
Journal of Social Policy, 35(1), January 2005, pp.77-96.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Place of publication:
Cambridge
The success of Labour's proposals for welfare reform, particularly retirement pensions, hinges on their ability to promote the idea of the consumer citizen and to undermine traditional ideas of citizenship rights. While the Government presents retirement as a matter of lifestyle choice, welfare ‘consumers’ are demanding more of their providers and are regularly disgruntled with the response.
The success of Labour's proposals for welfare reform, particularly retirement pensions, hinges on their ability to promote the idea of the consumer citizen and to undermine traditional ideas of citizenship rights. While the Government presents retirement as a matter of lifestyle choice, welfare ‘consumers’ are demanding more of their providers and are regularly disgruntled with the response. This article begins by exploring proposals for changing the culture and behaviour of people prior to retirement. It is suggested that, despite the language of choice, the threat of compulsion remains for those who fail to invest in the financial markets. Changes in the working practices and technologies of pension experts, legislation and regulation that demand transparency from providers, and more accessible complaints procedures, are all adding to the tensions between legislators, providers and consumers. Finally, the implications for social policy analyses in relation to welfare recipients, 'experts' and professional providers are briefly considered.