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The European social dimension in pension policy

Author

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  • Michaela Willert

    (German Insurance Association GDV1)

Abstract

This article analyses how the social objective of protecting lower earners from old-age poverty is supported at the EU level. It argues that although the Member States are responsible for pension policy, the EU framework could empower domestic social policy actors by providing them with cognitive and normative resources. The analysis is based on the situation in three countries: Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom. The article shows that there are well developed shared data and indicators, but that there is limited scope for common interpretation of the data. There is also a lack of common policy solutions due to two diverging pension reform paradigms: the adequacy paradigm and the sustainability paradigm. Although the latter increasingly has incorporated an adequacy perspective that limits pure cost containment policies, Europe 2020 limits the scope for positive social policy measures linked to the adequacy approach because it prioritizes a low tax wedge and growth-enhancing initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Michaela Willert, 2012. "The European social dimension in pension policy," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 18(3), pages 319-335, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:18:y:2012:i:3:p:319-335
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258912448601
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vanhercke, Bart, 2009. "Against the odds. The Open Method of Coordination as a selective amplifier for reforming Belgian pension policies," European Integration online Papers (EIoP), European Community Studies Association Austria (ECSA-A), vol. 13, November.
    2. Johannes Geyer & Viktor Steiner, 2009. "Zahl der Riester-Renten steigt sprunghaft: aber Geringverdiener halten sich noch zurück," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 76(32), pages 534-541.
    3. Hacker, Björn, 2011. "Governments little helper: EU-Politikkoordinierung in der Alterssicherung," WSI-Mitteilungen, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 64(5), pages 234-241.
    4. Coppola, Michela & Reil-Held, Anette, 2009. "Dynamik der Riester-Rente: Ergebnisse aus SAVE 2003 bis 2008," MEA discussion paper series 09195, Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (MEA) at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy.
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