Published
May 5, 2010Page count
136 pagesISBN
978-1847426406Dimensions
234 x 156 mmImprint
Policy PressPublished
May 5, 2010Page count
136 pagesISBN
978-1847426413Dimensions
234 x 156 mmImprint
Policy Press
Reinventing social security worldwide
Prior to the onset of the recent financial crisis, global trends of social security in industrialised societies were indicating a progressive disengagement of the State, in favour of tax-financed measures similar to social assistance, which may fail to ensure a basic standard of living.
In this timely book the author, with his life-long experience of international social security, advocates reinstating social insurance by reducing the volume of income redistribution, increasing the transparency of money flows and improving citizen information.
It will be of interest to a wide audience, including undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and lecturers, policy makers, social partners, professionals dealing with social security institutions and civil society groups.
"This short but informative and provocative book has much to recommend it." Peter Saunders in International Journal of Social Welfare
"The intended audience for the book is policy makers and international organisations
as well as students and researchers." European Journal of Social Security
"Drawing upon a lifetime of international experience in social security, a case is made in defence of the integrity of institutional 'social security' - earnings-related social insurance programmes. In this thought-provoking volume, Rys argues that the trend towards a blurring of the roles of social insurance and social assistance must be reversed." Roddy McKinnon, Editor, International Social Security Review
Vladimir Rys is a former secretary general of the International Social Security Association in Geneva. He has written a pioneering study on the sociology of social security. On retirement, he returned to academic research and studied social security in transition countries with special reference to the Czech Republic. His current research focus is on social security problems at worldwide level.
Part One: Social security evolution in a global perspective: what is at stake? A brief history of social security; Essential issues of social protection in our society; The new approaches to securing human existence in society; Part Two: Understanding social security in its societal environment: which methodology? A brief history of the sociology of social security; A macro-sociological approach to the study of social security; The use of macro-sociological factor analysis in comparative studies; Part Three: Reinventing social security in times of economic crisis: foundations of a new political consensus
Adapting social security to a new societal environment; Final reflections.