Privatising Old-Age Security

Katharina Müller, Professor of Social Policy, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Germany

'This is a fine comparative political economy interpretation of policy reform applied to pension systems in eight bold reformer countries of Latin America and Eastern Europe. The author shows great skill and sensible caution in showing what a multi-faceted, sometimes elusive undertaking reform is, involving many different actors with often conflicting goals. Considered within the specific policy and economic contexts, the analysis shows remarkable dexterity in confronting pension system reforms in countries that have being going through important or deep systemic transformation, and that have used pension system reform also to pursue broader and deeper changes and macroeconomic stabilisation.'

• Contents: 1. Introduction Part I: The Conceptual Framework 2. From State to Market: Explaining Policy Reform 3. Understanding Pension Reform Part II: Privatising Old-Age Security in Latin America 4. Regional Background: Old-Age Security in Latin America 5. Pension Privatisation in the Southern Cone 6. Pension Privatisation in the Andean Region Part III: Privatising Old-Age Security in Eastern Europe 7. Regional Background: Old-Age Security in the Transition Countries 8. Pension Privatisation in East-Central Europe 9. Pension Privatisation in South-Eastern Europe Part IV: Comparative Analysis and Conclusions 10. The Political Economy of Pension Privatisation 11. Conclusions References Index