Welfare Reform on the Web (October 1999): Pensions - Overseas

EQUITY AND REDISTRIBUTION BETWEEN GENERATIONS : A CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE OF PENSIONS AND ALL SOCIAL PROTECTION SCHEMES

A. M. Guillemard

International Social Security Review, vol. 52, no. 3, 1999, p. 69-92

The current changes in work and in work status imply a thorough rethinking of the contract between the generations. Only thus will our societies be able to accept the challenge of demographic ageing in terms of redistribution of employment and social transfers across the life cycle. Such a redistribution would enable us to re-establish social cohesion and solidarity between the generations by sharing working time, training and compensated inactivity in a more equitable manner between the different age-groups.

FUNDAMENTAL DECISIONS FOR THE REFORM OF PENSION SYSTEMS

W. Schmähl

International Social Security Review, vol. 52, no. 3, 1999, p. 45-55

Paper outlines the fundamental options for the design of pension systems in any country. The financing and benefits structure is described, with particular reference to distribution policy objectives. The need for thorough preparation to back-up decision-making is emphasized together with the need to take into account the many and varied interactions with other institutions and fields, particularly the long term effects of changes and the prevailing conditions in the country concerned.

MOTIVATION, PURPOSE AND PROCESS IN PENSION REFORM

G. Tamburi

International Social Security Review, vol. 52, no. 3, 1999, p. 15-44

Five specific goals are common to all contemporary pension reformers:

• social acceptability;
• financial sustainability;
• political feasibility;
• coherence with economic and labour market realities;
• client-friendly management.

Ideally, the perfect reform should aim at all five goals. In the real world reformers have to settle for less because political feasibility is likely to thwart their ambitions of fully meeting the other four goals.

'PARTIAL FIX' ON THE PROBLEMS FACING CANADIAN PENSIONS

Anon

Pensions International, no. 9, 1999, p. 14-15

Retirement income in Canada has three main components, the Old Age Security Program, the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans and the fully funded and tax advantaged Registered Pension Plans and Registered Retirement Savings Plans. Canada has made a start an tackling the challenges which confront all three pillars of the pensions system, but further reform will probably be necessary.

WORK, FAMILY, STATE AND MARKET : INCOME PACKAGING FOR OLDER HOUSEHOLDS

M. Rein and J. Turner

International Social Security Review, vol. 52, no. 3, 1999, p. 93-106

Article uses the concept of 'income packaging' to explore the economic position of older people historically and comparatively. Income packaging focuses on the evolving economic role of the State in occupational pensions, earnings and assets. The analysis of the evolution of the income position of older people is divided into three historical periods : emergence of the welfare state; dominance of the State; and differentiation or diversification.