Social security policies in industrial countries : a comparative analysis

Bibliographic Information

Social security policies in industrial countries : a comparative analysis

Margaret S. Gordon

Cambridge University Press, 2009

  • : pbk

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Note

"First published 1988. This digitally printed version 2009"--T.p. verso

"Paperback re-issue"--P. [4] of cover

Includes bibliographical references (p. 353-372) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

After 25 years of expansion and liberalisation in the post-war period, social security policies in industrial countries have been encountering stresses and strains in the 1970s and 1980s in an environment of slower economic growth, concern over inflation and high unemployment. This has led to intensified controversy between conservatives, who blame economic instability on the generosity of the welfare state and liberals who defend the role of social security programmes in contributing to economic stability and preventing people from falling into poverty. The discussion focuses on questions such as the relative merits of earnings-related, income-tested and universal benefits; who bears the financial burden; and the impact of social security benefits on incentives to work. Among the controversial issues receiving considerable attention are the arguments over the persistence of high unemployment in Western Europe, the attacks on 'entitlements' that benefit the middle class and the growing problem of disadvantaged youth, especially in the ghetto areas of large cities in some of the Western European countries and in the United States.

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.

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Details

  • NCID
    BB02783839
  • ISBN
    • 9780521106719
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Cambridge
  • Pages/Volumes
    xvi, 377 p.
  • Size
    23 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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