33. Pension policies in changing welfare states and their impact

Bernhard Ebbinghaus (University of Mannheim)

Traute Meyer (University of Southampton) 

Moritz Hess (University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein) 

Kati Kuitto (Finnish Centre for Pensions) 

Demographic ageing, changing labour markets, the rise of atypical work, flexible careers, and the need for work-family reconciliation are becoming more relevant and challenge pension systems worldwide. Concerns persist that these trends may increase disparities in old-age income, questioning further the social sustainability of pension policies. Already, since the 1990s European welfare states have implemented reforms to ensure financial sustainability, often by postponing retirement, extending working lives, and tightening eligibility criteria. Comparative research shows that such reforms, shifting towards marketization and privatization, have made systems less generous, requiring longer contribution periods, stricter conditions, and reduced benefits. 

Against the background of these socio-economic challenges and previous reform it is crucial to explore whether new approaches to pension provision are needed, and what alternatives seem feasible in the overall context of (European) welfare state development. At the same time the effect of previous policies is under-studied. While much research has examined the politics of pension reform, less is known about their long-term impact on income security, inequality, and social risks. Have previous reforms increased poverty risks? Have they widened class and gender disparities? How do we measure the cumulative impact of pension reforms, considering broader economic and labour market changes? 

This stream invites papers on pension policy reform efforts, and their effects on social inequality, and income security. We welcome theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions, including country-specific, comparative or longitudinal studies. Research employing policy analysis, social indicators, micro-level data analysis, and / or long-term simulation studies is encouraged. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): 

• Extending working lives, later career employment, and flexible retirement 

• The impact of labour market dynamics, atypical work, and self-employment on pensions 

• Pension inequalities related to gender, migration, and disability 

• The role of (unpaid) care work in pension entitlements and old-age income disparities 

• The impact of pension privatization and financialization on income security 

• Comparing pension rights of cohorts affected by reforms 

• Social class dimensions of pension reforms 

• Measuring long-term impacts of pension reforms on individuals 

• Interplay between pension, family, and labour market policies 

• Policy volatility, economic change, and pension predictability 

• Lessons from non-European countries on pension systems 

Overall, this stream aims to deepen understanding of how pension reforms shape retirement security and social inequality in ageing societies.