Skip to main content

Pension Reform in Europe: Context, Drivers, Impact

  • Chapter
Paid Work Beyond Pension Age
  • 120 Accesses

Abstract

Pension reform has been an important item on national political agendas across Europe for three decades. Governments have recalibrated and sometimes slashed pension benefits not only to reduce public expenditure but also to increase incentives for individuals to retire later. This chapter analyses patterns of pension reform across Europe, focusing on the causes and consequences of reforms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, K. M. (2010) ‘Promoting the multi-pillar model? The EU and the shift toward multi-pillar pension systems’, in: Y. Borgmann-Prebil and M. Ross (eds.), Developing solidarity in the EU: Citizenship, governance and new constitutional paradigms, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 216–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, K. M. (2011), ‘Occupational pensions in the Netherlands: Adapting to demographic and economic change’, in: B. Ebbinghaus (ed.), The varieties of pension governance: Pension privatization in Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 292–317.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, K. M. (2015), Social policy in the European Union, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, K. M. and Immergut, E. M. (2007), ‘Sweden: After social democratic hegemony’, in: E. M. Immergut, K. M. Anderson and I. Schulze (eds.), The handbook of West European pension politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 349–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, K. M. and Meyer, T. (2003), ‘Social democracy, unions, and pension politics in Germany and Sweden’, Journal of Public Policy, 23 (1), 23–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berglund, T. and Esser, I. (2014), Modell i förändring. Landrapport om Sverige, Oslo: Fafo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonoli, G. (2003), ‘Two worlds of pension reform in Western Europe’, Comparative Politics, 35 (4) 399–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonoli, G. (2007), ‘Switzerland: The impact of direct democracy’, in: E. M. Immergut, K. M. Anderson and I. Schulze (eds.), The handbook of West European pension politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 203–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonoli, G. and T. Shinkawa (eds.) (2005), Ageing and pension reform around the world, Aldershot: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonoli, G., Braun, D. and Trein, P. (2013), Pensions, health and long-term care — Switzerland, Asisp (Analytical support on social protection reforms and their socio-economic impact) country document, Brussels: European Commission/Gesellschaft für Versicherungswissenschaft und -gestaltung e. V., http://socialprotection.eu/files_db/1433/CH_asisp_CD13.pdf, date accessed 29 January 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridgen, P. and Meyer, T. (2011), ‘Britain: Exhausted voluntarism — The evolution of a hybrid pension regime, in: B. Ebbinghaus (ed.), The varieties of pension governance: Pension privatization in Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 265–92.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ebbinghaus, B. (2006), Reforming early retirement in Europe, Japan and the USA, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ebbinghaus, B. (ed.) (2011), The varieties of pension capitalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esping-Andersen, G. (1990), The three worlds of welfare capitalism, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat (2004), Population statistics, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat (2015a), Table: Total fertility rate (code: tsdde220), Luxembourg: Eurostat, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tsdde220&plugin=1, date accessed 27 January 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat (2015b), Dependency ratios, 1950 and 2012 (% of the population aged 15–64), Luxembourg: Eurostat, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Dependency_ratios,_1960_and_2012_(%25_of_the_population_aged_15–64).png, date accessed 3 March 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat (2015c), Table: Expenditure on pensions (code: tps00103), Luxembourg: Eurostat, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00103, date accessed 3 March 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrera, M. and Jessoula, M. (2007), ‘Italy: A narrow gate for path shift’, in: E. M. Immergut, K. M. Anderson and I. Schulze (eds.), The handbook of West European pension politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 396–453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gal, R. I. (2013), Pensions, health and long-term care — Hungary, Asisp (Analytical support on social protection reforms and their socio-economic impact) country document, Brussels: European Commission/Gesellschaft für Versicherungswissenschaft und -gestaltung e. V., http://socialprotection.eu/files_db/896/asisp_ANR10_Hungary.pdf, date accessed 3 March 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goul Andersen, J. (2011), ‘Denmark: The silent revolution towards a multipil-lar pension system’, in: B. Ebbinghaus (ed.), The varieties of pension governance: Pension privatization in Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 183–209.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Guardiancich, I. (2012), ‘Poland: Between flexible labour markets and defined contributions. In K. Hinrichs and M. Jessoula (eds.), Labour market flexibility and pension reforms: Flexible today, secure tomorrow?, London: Palgrave, 93–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Häusermann, S. (2010), The politics of welfare state reform in continental Europe. Modernization in hard times, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hinrichs, K. (2000), ‘Elephants on the move: Patterns of public pension reform in OECD countries’, European Review, 8 (3), 353–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinrichs, K. and Jessoula, M. (eds.) (2012), Labour market flexibility and pension reforms. Flexible today, secure tomorrow?, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinrichs, K. (2012), ‘Germany: A flexible labour market plus pension reforms means poverty in old age’, in: K. Hinrichs and M. Jessoula (eds.), Labour market flexibility and pension reforms, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 29–61.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Immergut, E. M., Anderson, K. M. and Schulze, I. (eds.) (2007), The handbook of West European pension politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessoula, M. (2012), ‘A risky combination in Italy: “Selective flexibility” and defined contribution pensions’, in: K. Hinrichs and M. Jessoula (eds.), Labour market flexibility and pension reforms, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 62–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, J. F. (2006), Age and the welfare state. The origins of social spending on pensioners, workers, and children, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, T. (2014), Beveridge statt Bismarck! Europäische Lehren für die Alterssicherung von Frauen und Männern in Deutschland, Berlin: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monastiriotis, V. (2013), ‘A very Greek crisis’, Intereconomics, 48 (1), 4–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myles, J. (1994), Old age in the welfare state. The political economy of public pensions, Boston: Little, Brown and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myles, J. and Pierson, P. (2001), ‘The comparative political economy of pension reform’, in: P. Pierson (ed.), The new politics of the welfare state, New York: Oxford University Press, 305–33.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • OECD (Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development) (2013a), Pensions at a glance, Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2013b), Pension markets in focus (No.10), Paris: OECD, http://www.oecd.org/finance/private-pensions/pensionmarketsinfocus.htm, date accessed 3 March 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orenstein, M. (2008) ‘Out-liberalizing the EU: Pension privatization in Central and Eastern Europe’, Journal of European Public Policy, 15 (6), 899–917.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pierson, P. (1994), Dismantling the welfare state, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pierson, P. (2004), Politics in time, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sainsbury, D. (1996), Gender, equality and welfare states, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze, I. and Jochem, S. (2007), ‘Germany: beyond policy gridlock’, in: E. M. Immergut, K. M. Anderson and I. Schulze (eds.), The handbook of West European pension politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 660–710.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stepan, M. and Anderson, K. M. (2014), ‘Pension reform in the European periphery: The role of EU reform advocacy’, Public Administration and Development, 34 (4), 320–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thane, P. (2002), Old age in English history, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trampusch, C. (2006), ‘Industrial relations and welfare states: The difference dynamics of retrenchment in Germany and the Netherlands’, Journal of European Social Policy, 16 (2), 121–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wadensjö, E. and Sjögren Lindquist, G. (2011), ‘Sweden. A viable public-private pension system’, in: B. Ebbinghaus (ed.), The varieties of pension governance: Pension privatization in Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 240–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (1994), Averting the old age crisis, New York: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2015 Karen M. Anderson

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Anderson, K.M. (2015). Pension Reform in Europe: Context, Drivers, Impact. In: Scherger, S. (eds) Paid Work Beyond Pension Age. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137435149_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics