The Role of Pension Policies in Preventing Old-Age Exclusion

Abstract

Access to an adequate pension is fundamental to preventing exclusion. As populations age, modern economies have put into place pension reforms to safeguard financial stability. In Europe, raising the age of eligibility for pensions and increasing the length of time necessary in a working career to access a pension are among the main policy measures that are being adopted. In addition, pensions and life expectancy are increasingly linked mainly in the form of the replacement of defined benefit pensions, where financial risks were shared collectively and produced stable pension benefits, by defined contribution pensions which depend on the capacity of individuals to save and individualise the risk of investments in diverse pension schemes. This chapter presents the main mechanisms of reforms to pension systems and addresses the opportunities and constraints for reducing exclusion in later life. It focuses on policies that aim to safeguard adequate levels of pension income for individuals who are unable to extend their working life; policies that aim to reduce gender pay gaps and, in turn, gender pension gaps; reforms to survivor pensions; and the provision of pension safety nets for individuals who have not built up enough contributions to ensure an adequate income. These policies are examined in the context of new social risks which result from shifting political systems, rapid technological change, and economic uncertainties.