Social Security Policies in Industrial Countries: A Comparative Analysis

by Margaret S. Gordon

Overview

After 25 years of expansion and liberalization in the postwar period, social security policies in industrial countries have been encountering stresses and strains in the 1970s and 1980s. This book focuses on such questions as the relative merits of earnings-related, income-tested, and universal benefits; the bearer of the financial burden; the impact of social security benefits on incentives to work; the role of active labor market policies in combating unemployment; the wide differences among countries in their relative emphasis on rehabilitation and the disabled; and policies toward single-parent families.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521333115
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/24/1989
Pages:	396
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.37(h) x 1.26(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; 1. Post-war developments; 2. Differences in social security spending; 3. National old-age pension programs: basic structure; 4. Other major features of old-age pension programs; 5. The age of retirement; 6. Long-term invalidity programs; 7. Industrial injuries programs; 8. The role of employer pension plans; 9. The economic impacts of pension programs; 10. Health benefits; 11. Unemployment compensation; 12. Labour market policies; 13. Family allowances and family policies; 14. Public assistance and guaranteed income proposals; 15. International linkages; 16. Conclusions; Appendices; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This is a highly competent and informative book presenting social security in international perspective. It is comprehensive in scope and depth of coverage. It also effectively combines information on the conceptual design and actual performance of specific programs and policies with pertinent economic and other broad-gauged observations to highlight different social policy objectives and tools." Industrial and Labor Relations Review

"An international perspective on social policy may cause an analyst to question previously unquestioned premises. It may suggest a broader range of solutions to social problems. It may provide new observations with added variability, allowing for new tests of theory. Margaret GORD succeeds in all three areas." John A. Turner, Journal of Economic Literature

From the Publisher

Discusses the major types of social security programs, drawing on data for most of the OECD countries and the Soviet bloc. Particular emphasis is given to the countries that have led in the development of innovative policies. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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