Pensions in Europe, European Pensions

Ce livre a reçu le prix de la Société italienne de science politique (SISP) comme meilleur bouquin en sciences politiques en Italie pour la période 2007-2008. Pension policy represents in many respects the corner stone of the contemporary European welfare states. And its reform has emerged as a key issue in most of the European countries. This book aims at improving the knowledge of the long-term and more recent evolution of retirement programmes and their regulation at national and supranational level. It gives detailed information about pensions in nine Western and Eastern European countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden and UK). In parallel it develops the study of the European Union action in the field, through regulation, the Stability and Growth Pact and the Open Method of Coordination. What does history tell us about the evolution of pensions? Is it a story of stability or change? Is there any convergence between European pension models? And then what is the role of the European Union in the field? This book provides answers to these questions and gives scholars, students and policy-makers a comprehensive description of national retirement programmes as well as theoretical analysis of the reform politics, output and outcomes with a focus on national and European dynamics. 'Pensions in Europe, European Pensions' represents a promising step beyond the more traditional comparative contributions, revealing the complex interaction of national and supranational institutions engaged in the most important welfare policy in the ageing European society.

Autorentext

The Author: David Natali is researcher at the University of Bologna-Forli. His research for the present book has been carried out for the Observatoire social européen, Asbl with the financial support of the Federal Public Service - Social Security of Belgium.

Inhalt

Contents: Rediscovering Pensions - Reforming Pension Systems. Challenges, Institutions and Politics - The Emergence and Growth (to Limits) of Pension Systems in Europe - Last Wave of Pension Reforms. The Case of Western European Countries - Last Wave of Pension Reforms. The Case of Eastern European Countries - EU Regulation of Pension Policy - EU Hard (Indirect) and Soft (Direct) Coordination of Pension Policy - The 21st Century European Pension Mix.