Pension Reform in Europe: Politics, Policies and Outcomes (Routledge/Eui Studies in the Political Economy of the Welfare State)

This new book provides a cross-country comparative analysis of the key issues shaping the latest pension reforms in Europe: political games, welfare models and pathways, population reactions, and observed and expected outcomes. Pension reform has been a top policy priority for European governments in the last decade. Ageing populations, changing labour market patterns and the process of European integration are the ‘irresistible forces’ pushing for reform throughout the region. __The Political Economy of Pension Reform__ evaluates the political forces that make pension reform viable in different national and institutional contexts and the nature of political bargains, actors and cleavages surrounding policy change. The volume also examines the nature and outcomes of pension reform experiences in Europe, searching for a solution to the financial challenge posed by growing pension budgets. By addressing the nature of change, the pathways of reform, and the outcomes of the new pension mix in the region, the authors conclude with an analysis of people’s perceptions and attitudes towards pension policy and their acceptance or otherwise of different reform options. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of international political economy, European politics, and social policy. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 Illustrations......Page 10 Contributors......Page 11 Preface......Page 14 Abbreviations......Page 16 1 Introduction: The political economy of pension reform......Page 18 Part I The politics of pension reform......Page 40 2 The ‘new politics’ of pension reforms in Continental Europe......Page 42 3 Between conflict and consensus: The reform of Bismarckian pension regimes......Page 64 4 How do politicians get away with path-breaking pension reforms?: The political psychology of pension reform in democracies......Page 87 5 The politics and outcomes of three-pillar pension reforms in Central and Eastern Europe......Page 104 Part II Reform options and outcomes......Page 124 6 Changing European welfare: The new distributional principles of pension policy......Page 126 7 The interdependence of the system of solidarity and the system of equivalence......Page 149 8 The Anglo-American pension regime: Failures of the divided welfare state......Page 172 9 The gender pension gap: Effects of norms and reform policies......Page 192 10 Generational equity Concepts and attitudes......Page 213 Index......Page 232 Introduction : The Political Economy Of Pension Reform / Camila Arza And Martin Kohli -- The New Politics Of Pension Reforms In Continental Europe / David Natali And Martin Rhodes -- Between Conflict And Consensus : The Reform Of Bismarckian Pension Regimes / Martin Schludi -- How Do Politicians Get Away With Path-breaking Pension Reforms? : The Political Psychology Of Pension Reform In Democracies / Einar Overbye -- The Politics And Outcomes Of Three-pillar Pension Reforms In Central And Eastern Europe / Katharina Müller -- Changing European Welfare : A New Distribution Pattern Of Pension Policy? / Camila Arza -- The Interdependence Of The System Of Solidarity And The System Of Equivalence / Martin Rein And Karen Anderson -- The Anglo-american Pension Regime : Failures Of The Divided Welfare State / Robin Blackburn -- The Gender Pension Gap : Effects Of Norms And Reform Policies / Patricia Frericks And Robert Maier -- Generational Equity : Concepts And Attitudes / Martin Kohli. Edited By Camila Arza And Martin Kohli. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Introduction : the political economy of pension reform / by Camila Arza and Martin Kohli The "new politics" of pension reforms in Continental Europe / by David Natali and Martin Rhodes Between conflict and consensus : The reform of Bismarckian pension regimes / by Martin Schludi How do politicians get away with path-breaking pension reforms? : the political psychology of pension reform in democracies / by Einar Overbye The politics and outcomes of three-pillar pension reforms in Central and Eastern Europe / by Katharina Müller Changing European welfare : A new distribution pattern of pension policy? / by Camila Arza The interdependence of the system of solidarity and the system of equivalence / by Martin Rein and Karen Anderson The Anglo-American pension regime : failures of the divided welfare state / by Robin Blackburn The gender pension gap : effects of norms and reform policies / by Patricia Frericks and Robert Maier Generational equity : concepts and attitudes / by Martin Kohli. "This book provides a comparative analysis of the politics, policies and outcomes of current pension reform in Europe. The book addresses the models of the new public-private pension mix in Europe, including key issues such as the distributional and gender impacts of reform, and evaluates the performance of private pension provision of the Anglo-Saxon type. It also engages in the 'generational conflict' debate and analyses the evidence on age cleavages in people's attitudes towards pension reform." "Pension Reform in Europe will be of particular interest to students and researchers of European Public Policy, Social Welfare and Welfare States, and International Political Economy."--BOOK JACKET