The Political Economy of Pension Reform: Public Opinion in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

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Better Pensions, Better Jobs: Towards Universal Coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean

“…In 2050, this population segment will represent 23% and in some countries like Chile, the segment will make up 27% of the electorate. Moreover, the fact that elderly adults are more likely to vote than younger people means that the effective percentage of the electorate made up by the elderly could reach 30% (Machado and Vesga, 2013).…”

“…In fact, occasionally, citizens endorse initiatives that do not directly benefit them monetarily. Brazil is a prime example: rural pensions receive the backing of the majority of the population, even among the middle and upper classes, which do not benefit from this measure (Machado and Vesga, 2013). This example indicates that it is possible to garner sufficient financial support for pension reform schemes such as those proposed by this book.…”