Abstract
In this chapter we discuss policy issues concerning pensions. We start by asking ourselves whether the social risk is reaching a certain age or no longer working. The personal scope of old age or retirement schemes is examined and the important choice between repartition or capitalization is approached in an original manner. The setting of the pension age is further examined, as are the requirements for a full pension. Other questions to be dealt with ask whether pension amounts should vary according to family composition and what state support there is for second and third pillar arrangements. We explore issues relating to the factors that determine the pension amount and the work a person is allowed to perform alongside the pension. The tension between the respect for acquired rights and the legitimate interests of younger generations is highlighted. The chapter ends with survivors’ pensions and asks why widow and widower’s pensions should be kept and if they should also benefit unmarried survivors?
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Present considerations are partially based on earlier work, such as Pieters, D. and Schoukens, P., Social Security Quo Vadis? Interviews with Social Security Administrations CEOs in 15 Western European Countries, New York: IBM Global Social Segment—IBM Corporation, 2007.
Bibliography
K. M. Anderson (2015) Social Policy in the European Union (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave).
J. Arpe, S. Milio, and A. Stuchlik (eds.) (2015) Social Policy Reforms in the EU: A Cross-National Comparison (SimEurope, London School of Economics, Bertelsmann Stiftung).
A. B. Atkinson (2015) Inequality, What Can Be Done? (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press).
P. Baldwin (1990) Politics of Social Solidarity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
N. Barr (2010) The Welfare State as Piggy Bank. Information, Risk, Uncertainty and the Role of the State (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
N. Barr and D. Whynes (1993) Current Issues in the Economics of Welfare (Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, and London: Macmillan).
A. Barrientos and D. Hulme (2008) Social Protection for the Poor and the Poorest (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave).
U. Becker (ed.) (2010) Die Alterssicherung von Beamten und ihre Reformen im Rechtsvergleich (Baden-Baden: Nomos).
U. Becker (ed.) (2010) Security: A General Principle of Social Security Law in Europe (Groningen: Europa Law Publishing).
J. Berghman (1999) ‘Basic Concepts on Social Security in Europe’ in B. Greve and D. Pieters (eds.) Social Security in an Interdisciplinary Perspective (Antwerpen: Maklu).
J. Berghman (2003) Social Security Policy and Economics (Leuven: Universitaire Pers).
J. Berghman (2013) ‘Prevention: The Cases of Social Security and Healthcare’ in B. Greve (ed.) The Routledge Handbook of the Welfare State (London and New York: Taylor and Francis Group).
J. Berra (2000) La Structure des Systèmes de Sécurité Sociale: Étude de Droit Comparée (Lausanne: Institut de Recherches sur le Droit de la Responsabilité Civile et des Assurances).
A. C. Bianculli (ed.) (2016) Regional Organizations and Social Policy in Europe and Latin America: A Space for Social Citizenship? (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan).
J. Bradshaw (ed.) (2008) Social Security, Happiness and Well-Being (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
L. Bryson (1992) Welfare and the State (London: Macmillan).
B. Cass (1991) ‘Expanding the Concept of Social Justice: Implications for Social Security’ in M. Adler et al. (eds.) Sociology of Social Security (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press).
J. Clasen and W. van Oorschot (2001) Changing Principles and Designs in European Social Security (European Institute of Social Security; Centre for Social Science).
J. Clasen and W. van Oorschot (2002) ‘Changing Principles in European Social Security’, European Journal of Social Security, 4.2, 89–115.
Comité d’Histoire de la Sécurité Sociale. Association pour l’Étude de l’Histoire de la Sécurité Sociale (2006) L’esprit de Réforme dans la Sécurité Sociale à travers Son Histoire (Paris).
C. Coyle, K. Milligan and D. A. Wise (2016) Social Security Programs and Retirement Around the World: Disability Insurance Programs and Retirement (Chicago: University of Chicago Press).
I. Das Neves (1996) Direito da Segurança Social: Princípios Fundamentales Numa Análise Prospectiva (Coimbra: Coimbra Editora).
B. De Mars, D. Pieters, and P. Schoukens (2010) ‘“Security” as General Principle of Social Security Law in Europe: Conclusions on Legislative Aspects’ in U. Becker, D. Pieters, F. Ross, and P. Schoukens (eds.) Security: A General Principle of Social Security Law in Europe (Groningen: Europa Law Publishing).
R. Dillemans, J. Van Langendonck, B. Van Buggenhout et al. (1978) Ontwerp van Wetboek Sociale Zekerheid (Leuven: Universitaire Pers).
I. Dingeldey (ed.) (2009) Governance of Welfare State Reform: A Cross National and Cross Sectoral Comparison of Policy and Politics (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing).
J. E. Dixon and R. P. Scheurell (1995) Social Security Programs: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Perspective, VIII (Westport, CT: Greenwood).
A. Downes (ed.) (2018) It’s Basic Income: The Global Debate (Bristol: Policy Press).
J.-J. Dupeyroux (2001) Droit de la Sécurité Sociale (Paris: Dalloz).
E. Eichenhofer (2000) Bismarck, die Socialversicherung und deren Zukunft (Berlin: Berlin Verlag).
G. Esping-Andersen (1990) Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism (Cambridge: Polity Press).
G. Esping-Andersen (1996) Welfare States in Transition: National Adaptations in Global Economies XII (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage).
G. Esping-Andersen (1999) The Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economics (Cambridge: Polity Press).
G. Esping-Andersen (2009) The Incomplete Revolution (Cambridge: Polity Press).
M. Ferrera (2009) Les Nouvelles Frontières du Social. L’intégration Européenne et les Transformations de L’espace Politique de la Protection Sociale (Paris: Presses de Sciences Po).
J.-F. Funck (2014) Droit de la Sécurité Sociale (Brussels: Larcier).
B. Greve (ed.) (2013) The Routledge Handbook of the Welfare State (Abingdon: Routledge).
B. Greve and D. Pieters (eds.) (1999) Social Security in an Interdisciplinary Perspective (Antwerpen and Apeldoorn: Maklu).
H. Hansen (2002) Elements of Social Security: A Comparison Covering Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada (Copenhagen: Danish National Institute of Social Research).
S. Häusermann (2010) The Politics of Welfare State Reform in Continental Europe: Modernization in Hard Times (Cambridge: Cambridge University).
M. Hill (1996) Social Policy: A Comparative Analysis (New York: Prentice Hall).
J. Hills, J. Ditch, and H. Glennerster (1994) Beveridge and Social Security: An International Retrospective (Oxford: Clarendon Press).
K. Hirose (2011) Pension Reform in Central and Eastern Europe in Times of Crisis, Austerity and Beyond (Budapest: International Labour Organisation).
D. D. Hoskins (2000) Social Security Research: Change and Continuity (Helsinki: Kansaneläkelaitos).
D. D. Hoskins, D. Dobbernack, and C. Kuptsch; ISSA (2001) Social Security at the Dawn of the 21st Century: Topical Issues and New Approaches, VIII (Piscataway, NJ: Transaction Publishers).
B. Kahil-Wolff and P.-Y. Greber (2006) Sécurité Sociale: Aspects de Droit National, International et Européen (Genève: Helbing & Lichtenhahn).
K. Kapuy, D. Pieters, and B. Zaglmayer (2007) Social Security Cases in Europe: the European Court of Human Rights (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
P. A. Kemp, K. Van den Bosch, and L. Smith (2008) Social Protection in an Ageing World (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
K. Kremalis (1996) Simplification and Systematisation of Social Protection Rules (Athens: Sakkoulas).
J. H. Langbein, S. J. Stabile, and B. A. Wolk (2006) Pension and Employee Benefit Law (New York: Foundation Press).
T.-K. Lehtonen and J. Liukko (2011) ‘The Forms and Limits of Insurance Solidarity’, Journal of Business Ethics, 103, 33–44.
B. Lund (2002) Understanding State Welfare: Social Justice or Social Exclusion? (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage).
J. Millar (ed.) (2009) Understanding Social Security: Issues for Policy and Practice, 2nd ed. (Bristol: Policy Press).
J. Motmans, D. Cuypers, P. Meier, D. Mortelmans and P. Zanoni (2011) Equal Is Not Enough: Challenging Differences and Inequalities in Contemporary Societies (Antwerp: Steunpunt Gelijkekansenbeleid).
D. Natali (2017) The New Pensions Mix in Europe: Recent Reforms, Their Distributional Effects and Political Dynamics (Brussels: Peter Lang).
G. Nezosi (2005) Problèmes Politiques et Sociaux: La Gouvernance de la Sécurité Sociale (Paris: Documentation Française).
A. Norton, T. Conway, and M. Foster (2001) Social Protection Concepts and Approaches: Implications for Policy and Practice in International Development (London: Overseas Development Institute).
OECD (2017) Pensions at a Glance 2017: Country Profile Germany, www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2017-country-profileGermany.pdf.
M. P. Olivier (1999) Social Security Law: General Principles, XXXVII (New York: Butterworths).
J. Olk (1998) ‘Soziale Sicherheit im Globalen Dorf’, Zentralblatt für Sozialversicherung, Sozialhilfe und Versorung: Zeitschrift für das Recht der Sozialen Sicherheit, 52.4, 106–114.
Organización Iberoamericano de Seguridad Social (2006) Código Iberoamericano de Seguridad Social (Madrid: OISS).
F. J. L. Pennings (2006) ‘Social Security’ in J. M. Smits (eds.) Elgar Encyclopedia of Comparative Law (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing).
F. J. L. Pennings and G. Vonk (eds.) (2015) Research Handbook on European Social Security Law (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing).
R. Pereira (2017) Financing Basic Income: Addressing the Cost Objection (Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, US).
D. Pieters (1998) ‘Reflections on the Methodology of Social Security Law Comparison’ in F. Ruland, B. von Maydell, and H.-J. Papier (eds.) Verfassung, Theorie und Praxis des Sozialstaats. Festschrift für Hans F. Zacher zum 70. Geburtstag (Heidelberg: C. F. Müller Verlag).
D. Pieters (2002) ‘Social Security Systems in Europe: Reacting to a Difficult Economic Context’ in Reform and Perspectives on Social Insurance: Lessons from the East and West (London, The Hague, and New York: Kluwer Law International).
D. Pieters (2002) ‘What Is a Social Security Contribution and What Is a Tax?’ in Sozialrecht and Sozialpolitik in Deutschland und Europa: Festschrift für Professor Bernd Baron von Maydell (Neuwied and Kriftel: Herman Luchterhand Verlag).
D. Pieters (2002) The Social Security Systems of the Member States of the European Union (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
D. Pieters (2003) The Social Security Systems of the States Applying for Membership of the European Union (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
D. Pieters (2006) Social Security: An Introduction to the Basic Principles (Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International).
D. Pieters (2009) Onze Sociale Zekerheid: Anders en Beter (Kapellen: Pelckmans).
D. Pieters (2010) ‘La Seguridad Social en Europa: Entre la Conservación del Pasado y la Construcción del Futuro’ in Asociación Española de Salud y Seguridad Social (eds.) El Futuro Europeo de la Protección Social (Murcia: Ediciones Laborum).
D. Pieters (2014) ‘Fuentes de Financiación y Futuro del Derecho Europeo’ in Los Retos Financieros del Sistema de Seguridad Social. Libro Homenaje al Profesor Antonio Ojeda Avilés (Murcia: Ediciones Laborum).
D. Pieters (2015) ‘Social Security and Freedom of Religion’ in S. Devetzi and C. Janda (eds.) Freiheit-Gerechtigkeit-Sozial(es) Recht. Festschrift für Eberhard Eichenhofer (Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlag).
D. Pieters and P. Schoukens (2015) ‘Social Security Law Instruments of the Next Generation: European Social Security Law as a Source of Inspiration?’ in F. Pennings and G. Vonk (eds.) Research Handbook on European Social Security Law (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing).
D. Pieters and B. Zaglmayer (2006) Social Security Cases in Europe: National Courts (Antwerpen and Cambridge: Intersentia).
C. Pollitt, C. Talbot, J. Caulfield, and A. Smullen (2005) Social Security (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave).
P. Rosanvallon (2000) The New Social Question: Rethinking the Welfare State (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press).
P. Saunders and R. Sainsbury (eds.) (2010) Social Security, Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rich and Poorer Countries (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
W. Schmähl (2009) Soziale Sicherung: Ökonomische Analysen (Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften).
E. Schokkaert (2001) Ethics and Social Security Reform, XIII (Farnham: Ashgate).
P. Schoukens (ed.) (2010) Security: A General Principle of Social Security Law in Europe (Groningen: Europa Law Publishing).
P. Schoukens (2016) EU Social Security: The Hidden Social Model (Tilburg: Tilburg University).
P. Schoukens and D. Pieters (2007) Social Security Quo Vadis? Interviews with Social Security Administration CEOs in 15 Western European Countries (New York: IBM Global Social Segment—IBM Corporation).
P. Schoukens, D. Pieters, U. Becker and F. Ross (eds.) (2010) Security: A General Principle of Social Security Law in Europe (Groningen: Europa Law Publishing).
R. Sigg and C. Behrendt; Internationale Vereinigung für Soziale Sicherheit (2003) Soziale Sicherheit im Globalen Dorf (Bern: Peter Lang).
D. Simoens, D. Pieters, J. Put, P. Schoukens, and Y. Stevens (2005) Sociale Zekerheden in Vraagvorm; Liber Amicorum Jef Van Langendonck (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
H. W. Sinn (1995) ‘A Theory of the Welfare State’, The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 97.4, 495–526.
P. Spicker (2011) How Social Security Works: An Introduction to Benefits in Britain (Bristol: Policy Press).
A. Tollenaar (ed.) (2010) Social Security as a Public Interest: A Multidisciplinary Inquiry into the Foundations of the Regulatory Welfare State (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
J. A. Turner (2017) Sustaining Social Security in an Era of Population Aging (Kalamazoo: W. E. Upjohn Institute).
UNRISD (2009) Social Policies in Small States (Genève: UNRISD).
W. van Eeckhoutte and R. Blanpain (vol. ed., gen. ed.) (2018) International Encyclopaedia of Laws/Social Security (London, The Hague, and New York: Kluwer Law International).
J. Van Langendonck (2009) Een Andere Kijk op Sociale Zekerheid (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
W. van Oorschot (ed.) (2014) Invisible Social Security Revisited: Essays in Honour Jos Berghman (Leuven: Lannoo Campus).
W. van Oorschot (ed.) (2017) The Social Legitimacy of Targeted Welfare: Attitudes to Welfare Deservingness (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing).
P. Van Parijs and Y. Vanderborght (2006) Ein Grundeinkommen für Alle?: Geschichte und Zukunft Eines Radikalen Vorschlags (Frankfurt am Main: Campus Verlag).
F. Vandenbroucke and B. Vanhercke (2014) A European Social Union: 10 Tough Nuts to Crack, Background Report for the Friends of Europe High-Level Group on ‘Social Union’ (Brussels: Friends of Europe).
B. Vanhercke, S. Sabato, and D. Bouget (eds.) (2017) Social Policy in the European Union: State of Play 2017—Eighteenth Annual Report (Brussels: ETUI, OSE).
B. von Maydel and A. Nussberger (2000) Transformation von Systemen Sozialer Sicherheit in Mittel- und Osteuropa: Bestandsaufnahme und Kritische Analyse aus dem Blickwinkel der Rechtswissenschaft (Berlin: Duncker und Humblot).
G. Vonk and A. Tollenaar (ed.) (2009) Social Security as a Public Interest: A Multidisciplinary Inquiry into the Foundations of the Regulatory Welfare State (Antwerp and Cambridge: Intersentia).
Numerous papers and policy papers on social security topics coming from the European Union, the Council of Europe, the International Labor Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Institute of Social Security, the International Social Security Association and the European Social Observatory should be added, as well as the many interesting articles to be found in the European Journal of Social Security and in the International Social Security Review.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pieters, D. (2019). Policy Choices for Income Replacement in the Case of Old Age and Survivorship. In: Navigating Social Security Options. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05992-7_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05992-7_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05991-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05992-7
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)