Discussion papers

2023

  1. Aligning Skills Development and National Social Protection Systems.

    03 November 2023

    Coordination between social protection, employment and skills policies is a hallmark of systems that successfully empower individuals to deal with important work and life transitions.

2007

  1. Social health protection. An ILO strategy towards universal access to health care. A consultation

    01 January 2007

    This discussion paper is the first in the Department's series of papers in the field of social health protection and is a contribution to the assignment bestowed on the International Labour Office by the International Labour Conference, namely to launch a major campaign for the extension of social security to all. It aims to set forth some basic notions about the ILO strategy on "Rationalization of the use of pluralistic financing mechanisms".

  2. The Right to Social Security and National Development. Lessons from OECD experience for low-income countries.

    01 January 2007

    This report traces the divergent historical experience in "developed" and "developing" countries of putting into practice the fundamental rights to social security, including social insurance, and an "adequate" standard of living. Attempts to restrain and roll back social security in the last three decades have been made with too little understanding of the accumulating historical impetus in all OECD countries, of its elaborate institutions and multiple functions. This report has sought to review that history because of the critical contemporary need to establish an economic and social as well as political consensus about strategy. The report highlights the importance of social security in development policy formulation and provides in this respect some strategic recommendations for both developing and industrialized countries.

2006

  1. Social security in low and middle-income countries. The role of household survey data

    01 January 2006

    This report assesses the possibilities of using household surveys to evaluate the performance of social security policies and provides an overview of the available information. Particular attention is paid to indicators on social security coverage and the impact of social security on the living standards of the population. As the data situation in industrialized countries is fairly well known, the focus of this study was on low- and middle-income countries where social security schemes are often immature and cover only small groups of the population. The report additionally includes information on other non- OECD countries, as well as on certain OECD countries that have undergone political and economic transformation over the last decade.

  2. Social security for all. Investing in global social and economic development. A consultation

    01 January 2006

    This paper seeks to explore the framework within which the International Labour Office should promote a principled, practical approach to social security policy in the new millennium. Integration has to be built around a joint coherent policy vision and building such a policy vision requires debate. This paper is a product of a joint effort of members of the ILO Social Security Department and social security specialists working in the ILO field offices.

  3. Cash benefits in low-income countries. Simulating the effects on poverty reduction for Senegal and Tanzania

    01 January 2006

    Social cash transfers are increasingly recognized as an effective instrument in the reduction of poverty. The objective of the present study is to model the introduction of basic social cash transfer programmes on household welfare, poverty incidence and depth in two African countries: Senegal and Tanzania. Based on household budget survey data, a set of social cash transfers were modelled in terms of their impact on poverty reduction. In addition, a rough cost estimate of the simulated transfers is provided.

  4. Costing of basic social protection benefits for selected Asian countries. First results of a modelling exercise

    01 January 2006

2005

  1. Can low income countries afford basic social protection? First results of a modelling exercise

    01 January 2005

    This report presents the methodology and the results of a modelling exercise that demonstrates that basic social protection benefits are not out of reach of low-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, even though some international assistance would be necessary for a transitory period.

2004

  1. Topics in Quantitative Analysis of Social Protection Systems

    01 January 2004

    The objectives of the actuarial valuation of social security pension schemes is to set out the future contribution rates which ensure the long-term solvency of the schemes. This paper examines the implications of three financial indicators and develop premium formulae which satisfy the required financial conditions.

2003

  1. Non-contributory pensions and social protection

    01 January 2003

    Examines non-contributory pension schemes found in a small number of countries, paying particular attention to the large cash transfer programmes in Brazil and South Africa. It evaluates the effectiveness of these programmes, and considers the feasibility of establishing similar schemes in other developing countries. This evaluation is complex both because non-contributory pension programmes have multiple objectives, and because there is considerable diversity of socio-economic and cultural conditions across the developing world.

2002

  1. On the Stability of Pay-As-You-Go Pension Systems in an Ageing Population − The Case of Japan

    01 January 2002

    The aim of this paper is to examine the stability of PAYG pension schemes in the context of the anticipated ageing of population structure. Chapter 1 sets out the basic analytical framework for evaluating PAYG pension schemes in general. Chapter 2 analyses the long-term financial status of the EPI and looks into intergenerational equity. Chapter 3 concludes with the discussion on policies implied by our analysis. For background information, Appendix A summarises the results of the actuarial valuation carried out by the Japanese Government actuaries in 1999; and, Appendix B presents the updated projection results which take into account the population projection revised in 2002. A Statistical Annex supplements with detailed data.

2000

  1. Effective retirement age and duration of retirement in the industrial countries between 1950 and 1990

    01 January 2000

  2. Are there better ways to cut and share the cake? The European Welfare states at the crossroads

    01 January 2000

    Selection of papers presented at the ILO regional meeting on social security financing for representatives of workers' organizations (Port of Spain, 23-25 June 1999).

  3. Issues in social security financing in the Caribbean

    01 January 2000

    Selection of papers presented at the ILO regional meeting on social security financing for representatives of workers' organizations (Port of Spain, 23-25 June 1999).

1999

  1. The Swedish Pension Reform

    01 January 1999

    This report assesses the possibilities of using household surveys to evaluate the performance of social security policies and provides an overview of the available information. Particular attention is paid to indicators on social security coverage and the impact of social security on the living standards of the population. As the data situation in industrialized countries is fairly well known, the focus of this study was on low- and middle-income countries where social security schemes are often immature and cover only small groups of the population. The report additionally includes information on other non- OECD countries, as well as on certain OECD countries that have undergone political and economic transformation over the last decade.

1997

  1. Social security for the informal sector: Investigating the feasibility of pilot projects in Benin, India, El Salvador and Tanzania

    01 January 1997

  2. Extending coverage under basic pension schemes. General and Chinese considerations. Review of policy issues; review of strategic and technical issues

    01 January 1997

1996

  1. Recent development in financing social security in Latin America

    01 January 1996