Political Actors and Reform Paradigms in Czech Old-Age Security

Abstract

In the Czech Republic, economic reforms were started at the beginning of the nineties. At the same time fundamental social reforms were launched. The aim of this transformation process was to create a social security system that would correspond to the needs of the market economy, i.e. a system able to absorb the social risks accompanying the free market (e.g. unemployment). Another objective of the social security reform consisted in stimulating individuals and social groups to assume greater responsibility for their own social situation without relying on state benefits. Furthermore, in the context of Czech international relations policy, it was important to adapt the social security system to international conventions and to harmonise the legislation with European social insurance systems.