Description
Book SynopsisPrior 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.
Trade Review"This short but informative and provocative book has much to recommend it." Peter Saunders in International Journal of Social Welfare
Table of ContentsPart 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.
