| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
| Reviewing the role and structure of pensions in their national context | | Author(s) | Peter Saunders |
| Corporate Author | Social Policy Research Centre - SPRC, University of New South Wales |
| Journal title | SPRC Discussion Paper, no 128, 2003 |
| Pages | 16 pp |
| Source | Downloaded document(5.4.04): www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/dp/DP128.pdf |
| Keywords | Pensions ; Social policy ; Research Reviews ; Australia ; China ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | Recent developments in pensions policy in a range of countries and the main forces driving the policy agenda are reviewed. This paper draws specifically on the research and policy experience of Australia, China and the US. Three main themes are considered: demographic change; financing of pensions; and the role of politics. It is argued that all three must be included within any analysis of pension reform, and that each is important. Different approaches to pension reform in different countries reflect the value and culture of each country, and once these become embedded in a pension scheme, they take on their own momentum. The examples of China and Australia illustrate the uniqueness of pension systems. The evidence discussed relates to the role of means testing and the balance between formal and informal means of support in old age. In any country, pension reform options must address demographic changes and be financially sound, but they must also be politically sustainable. There are challenges arising from all three factors, but to portray these as a "crisis" for prevailing pension systems does little to aid the search for sensible responses. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-040629221 B |
| Classmark | JJ: TM2: 3A:6KC: 7YA: 7DC: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|