Private Pensions versus Social Inclusion? Non-State Provision for Citizens at Risk in Europe

Abstract

Since the 1980s, most advanced industrial countries have attempted to curb the increase in public pension spending by encouraging the development of private schemes and, in some cases, by reducing the scope of existing state entitlements.This timely volume explores the potential consequences of such recent policy shifts for the income situation of future retirees in Europe.More specifically, the book focuses on six countries, divided into two main categories: countries that have long relied on private pensions (i.e., Britain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland) and countries that have recently reduced state entitlements while pushing for the expansion of traditionally marginalized occupational pensions (i.e., Italy, Germany, and Poland).The main objective of the book is not only to survey recent reform trends in these six countries but to assess their future impact on ordinary people in terms of income security, poverty alleviation, and social inclusion.In order to do that, the volume features simulations that approximate the future pension entitlements of different individuals who would retire in the year 2050 under each of the six national pension systems.Centered on fictitious individuals of both sexes, with various work and family trajectories, this analysis allows the volume's contributors to assess the potential performance of the six national pension systems in terms of gender equality and social inclusion.Moreover, these simulations examine the possible impact of divorce and career interruptions on future pension levels.After the introduction, the book is divided into six country chapters that explore recent pension reforms before assessing the future income-maintenance performance of each national pension system.Each of these chapters is written by one or several specialist(s) of the country under investigation.As for the conclusion, it puts all the pieces of the puzzle together by systematically comparing the six countries discussed with greater detail in previous chapters.The inclusion of such a substantial conclusion considerably increases the coherence of this volume.Most edited volumes do not hold together as well, so the editors

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