European Disability Pension Policies

11 Country Trends 1970–2002

This title was first published in 2003. During the last twenty years, the longer-term sustainability of social insurance systems has become a major issue in all European countries. Analysts and governments are increasingly alarmed at the growth in the number of disability benefit recipients, and the expansion of disability benefit schemes via increasing benefits, broadening coverage and easing access. While policy measures differ widely, policy goals tend to converge. This book analyses and compares the often controversial disability benefit policies in eleven European countries, examining their rationale, impact and outcome, and the direction of reform in the future. It will make fundamental reading for specialists in disability, social protection and public economics, and for Social Policy academics, researchers and students generally.