Pensions Panorama: Retirement-Income Systems in 53 countries

The accurate presentation of a country's pension system and the comparison of pension systems across countries are crucial parts of policy analysis and reform. This is equally valid for high-income countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as it is for low- and middle-income countries. 'Pensions Panorama' provides a compendium of facts and analysis that should inform policy making and public debate about retirement-income systems around the world. Reforming pensions is a central policy issue for all countries; it is challenging and controversial because it involves long-term planning by governments that face numerous short-term pressures. In 'Pensions Panorama', Edward Whitehouse combines painstaking, rigorous analysis with a clear, easy-to-understand presentation of empirical results. While the author does not advocate any particular kind of pension system or type of pension reform, the analysis presented can inform debates on retirement-income systems. A core concern is social sustainability, which involves the future adequacy of pension benefits, the impact of pension reforms on income distribution among older peoples, and the means to combat old-age poverty. 'Pensions Panorama' is a useful resource for policy makers, government oficials, and others involved in pension reform.