<p>Pension reform has been on the social policy agenda in many countries across the world since the 1980s. The main debate has been whether to maintain the postwar PayAs-Y ou-Go (PA YG) pension programs or replace them with private pensions known as individual accounts. lnstitutionalists claim that (PA YG) pension programs are impossible to transform because they are not only fraught with interest group conflicts that have adverse implications for the electoral chances of reform-minded politicians, but also because they are popular among voters, and supported by beneficiaries and trade unions. On the other hand, those international political economists studying welfare reforms argue that the structural transformation of PA YG pension systems is possible and driven by a coalition of global policy actors led by the World Bank. Most of the data that informed these theoretical postulations came from OECD and middle-income countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe. The story of pension reforms in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries had until now not been factored adequately into the debate.</p><p>This thesis argues that an understanding of pension reforms in SSA countries requires an analysis of both the domestic and international political processes. But this understanding is only possible if the relative role played by domestic and international factors are taken into account and analyzed. Using pension reforms in Ghana since the 1980s as an illustrative case which can inform us about other English-speaking SSA countries, this thesis therefore takes the international level into account, but focuses on the domestic level and argues that domestic politics mattered much more than is assumed by some international political economists in the literature. The thesis affirms aspects of institutionalist arguments, but presents an alternative explanation of pension reforms in SSA that (a) for the first time analyzes the domestic politics of pension reform and (b) casts serious doubts on arguments about the dominant role of transnational actors, while suggests significant improvements to theoretical understandings of pension reform policy processes.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The research puzzle of the thesis is to investigate how policy discourse mediates domestic policy adjustment consequent on commitments entered into at the domestic level by the European Union. Conceptually, it adopts the discursive institutionalist framework as developed by Vivien Schmidt and Claudio Radaelli. Empirically, it chooses a single-case study approach to focus on the Greek old-age pension policy adjustment during 1990-2002. The thesis also appraises the process of Europeanization. It adopts the ‘bottom-up’ approach to Europeanization as developed by Claudio Radaelli. Under this scope it’s analysis does not start from EU policy commitments as an independent variable, but from a system of interaction at the domestic level. Conceptually, the thesis looks at policy discourse as a consensus and legitimacy building resource. It focuses on the discursive interactions of key policy actors and analyses how they use policy discourse in order to justify the necessity and the appropriateness of policy adjustment in a given institutional context. The thesis suggests that the discursive institutionalist argument of how policy discourse facilitates policy adjustment puts too much emphasis on the governmental discourse and that the input of the rest of key policy actors must be included in the analysis. It thus proposes the integration of certain elements of the Neo-Positivist Narrative Analysis framework to discursive institutionalism. The argument claims that policy actors’ discourse will take the form of policy narratives that either expand or contain the policy issue. The institutional context will determine the level at which the discursive interaction will take place. In simple polities like Greece, discourse will be thicker at the communicative level and thinner at the coordinative. The effectiveness of discourse will be determined by the level of trust between the government, the key policy actors and the public. The empirical analysis points to a number of domestic factors that restrict the effectiveness of policy discourse and the process of Europeanization, which fall outside the pension policy area and Greece. The thesis also contributes to the advancement of discursive institutionalism. Firstly, it incorporates narrative analysis to the study of discourse. Secondly, it highlights certain limitations, it suggests ways that discursive institutionalism could be improved and directions towards which it could be fruitfully developed.

L'objectif de cette thèse est d'apporter une contribution sur la question de la réforme du système de retraite par répartition lequel devient plus que jamais fragilisé dans un contexte de vieillissement des populations. Aussi, dans le cadre de cette recherche, nous avons analysé les effets du système de retraite par répartition ainsi que de sa réforme sur les variables macroéconomiques et sur le bien être des générations. Dans cette perspective, nous avons construit un modèle d'équilibre général calculable à générations imbriquées à partir duquel nous avons simulé différents scénarii de réforme du système de retraite tunisien en tenant compte de l'évolution de la population. Les résultats empiriques corroborent ceux dégagés d'un point de vue théorique et montrent qu'une combinaison d'une hausse du taux de cotisation, d'une baisse du taux de remplacement et d'un recul de cinq ans de l'âge de départ à la retraite, améliorerait le solde budgétaire du système par répartition mais aurait un effet négatif sur l'épargne ainsi que sur le stock de capital de l'économie. Par ailleurs, il s'avère que l'introduction d'un pilier par capitalisation, tout en maintenant constant le taux global de cotisation, aurait des effets positifs sur les variables macroéconomiques mais affecterait négativement le bien-être des générations de la transition. Les résultats des simulations nous ont également permis de formuler une proposition de réforme qui se déroulerait en deux étapes et qui permettrait de maintenir l'équilibre financier du système de retraite tunisien jusqu'en 2040. / The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the social security reform debate which is becoming an up-to-date concern with an aging population context. In this research, we analyze the impact of the macroeconomic and welfare effects of the pay-as-you-go system and of its reform especially during the transition. In this perspective we developed an overlapping generation model based on a general equilibrium framework. Our model takes into account the evolution of the Tunisian demographic structure. Results from simulations suggest that a social security reform combining a decrease in the replacement rate, an increase in the contribution rate and a five year increase in the retirement age have positive financial effects. However, it has negative effects on savings and on capital stock in the economy. According to our model, a fully funded pillar introduction, keeping total contribution rate constant, has a positive impact on macroeconomic variables. Nevertheless, this reform hurts the transitional generations welfare. Using these results, we propose a two-step reform of the Tunisian retirement system which introduces a fully funded pillar. This reform proposal can insure financial equilibrium of the retirement system until 2040.

The thesis examines various parameters of pre-funded pension systems with individual accounts that are in some aspects mandatory. Instead of describing such systems comparatively in detail, rationale of some of the system design choices is discussed. Main focus is on institutional design, cost containment and investment regulation. It is argued that given the mandatory nature of such systems, governments should seek to regulate them in ways that promote cost-effectiveness, while allowing for meaningful investment return on system assets. Also, where sound, adequate use should be made of existing industry and regulatory structures as a cost-containment and confidence-building measure.

The diploma thesis in the first part deals with an overview of basic pension schemes, their typology and distribution. Further, this section deals with the reasons for the reform of the pension system and demographic developments and general trends in pension protection system. The second part deals with analyse the so-called "small" and "large" pension reform, then analysis of the current pension system in Czech Republic for each column of the pension system in particular. At the end thesis represents a model calculation of the expected cash income at retirement age from three columns of the pension system based on specified parameters adaptable to a wide range of subjects which can be calculated for each pillar in particular. Thesis concludes that participation in second column of pension system is advantageous for those, who have salary above average or for people, who have restricted access to save on retirement.

Ausgewählte Fragen der dritten Phase der Rentenreform in der Tschechische Republik Das Ziel meiner Diplomarbeit ist die Beschreibung, die Analyse und die Auswertung der dritten Phase der Rentenreform mit dem Hinweis an die Probleme, mit dennen auch die letzte Entscheidung der Regierung über die Aufhebung des zweiten Pfeilers des Rentensparens verbunden wurde. Die Arbeit wird systematisch an die 5 Kapitel geteilt. In der ersten Kapitel werden die universale Prinzipen und Möglichkeiten der Konstruktion der Rentensysteme zusammen mit der Aufnahme des tschechischen Rentensystems in dem System der Sozialversicherung detailisiert. Die zweite Kapitel detailisiert die Gültigrechtsausgestaltung des tschechischen Rentensystems.In der dritten Kapiltel wird auf die Probleme verbundene mit der Einführung der Groβrentenreform hingewiesen und auf diese Problematik knüpft die letzte Kapitel an, die genau das nächste Prozess der Aufhebung des zweiten Pfeilers der Rentensparung analysiert. Am Ende meiner Arbeit werden die gewonnene Kentnisse allgemein gemacht und die Überlegung über die Erfolgsamkeit der Einführung einer Fondfinanzierung in das tschechische Rentensystem. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Contributions for pension savings This thesis in the first place deals with the contributions of pension savings and the process of it's administration. The purpose of my thesis is a description, analysis and evaluation method of selection contributions for pension savings. The thesis is based on some new concepts that are associated with administration of insurance. It means that new contributions for pension savings are closer to taxes than to the premiums for social security. The basic source of legislation is Act No. 397/2012 Collection of Laws, about contributions for pension savings (ACPS). This thesis is divided systematically into six chapters. The first chapter is introductory. This chapter defines the aim, the methods of use and literature. The second chapter briefly describes the implementation of the pension reform, focusing on II. pillar, it's current status, proposed changes and possible future developments. The largest chapter is Chapter Three - financing of retirement savings. The starting point for description, analysis and evaluation of the regulation of contributions is Comment to the Act about contributions for pension savings. The third chapter is divided into five parts - Legislation before taking ACPS, approval of new legislation, contributions, administration of contributions...

In 1959, the Swedish Social Democratic Party prevailed over the bourgeois parties in the great battle for supplementary pensions (ATP). In the 1990’s, however, the party leadership decided to abolish the ATP in close cooperation with the bourgeois parties. The thesis poses the following question: “What prospects did the Social Democratic leadership have to gain support for the ATP-reform in the 1950’s, and then for the quite dissimilar pension reform in the 1990’s, and how can differences between these prospects be explained?” In order to explain the kind of party change pointed out in the problem statement, this thesis proposes a theoretical perspective that focuses on the tension between different roles played by the party leadership on different arenas. The hypothesis, that is tested in the thesis, is that early decisions create different constrains for future decisions on different arenas. The thesis has two main conclusions. The first conclusion is that the decision to implement the generous ATP-system in the 1950’s in practice laid the ground for the subsequent abolishment of that same system in the 1990’s. The second conclusion is that the pragmatism, always displayed on the parliamentary arena, has not been visible on the electoral arena or on the party arena. The party leadership plays different roles on different arenas, and over time these different roles have become hard, if not impossible, to combine. The result of this was that decisions on the parliamentary arena were decoupled from messages and rhetoric about these decisions on the party arena, and on the electoral arena. The pension reform in the 1990’s was quite a different decision compared to the popular introduction of the ATP-system. Both of these decisions, however, were attempts by the party leadership to maximize support on each arena. The possibilities for succeeding in this venture were greatly reduced in the 1990’s. Instead of one party striving for one goal, Swedish Social Democracy in the 1990’s appeared as two or three parties, with different objectives and goals.

This thesis is devoted to an analysis of mandatory expenditures in the Czech Republic, their evolution, structure and quantification. During the past fifteen years, the mandatory expenditures more than tripled, and cause a serious fiscal problems. The main reason is the huge increase in social sphere expenditures in relation to domestic debt. The main attention is focused mostly on social transfers to the people, especially on pension benefits. Another part provides a description of current pension system and the main causes of the pension reform. It also contains a comparison of two basic ways of financing pensions, PAYG and FF systems. The final part is devoted to evaluation of government proposal for pension reform and its problems that go with it. The analysis is subject to capital system from perspective of profitability and fees at private pension funds.

Pension income insurance is in the Czech market since 1994 and throughout its operation, the number of its clients increase. Its unique position is due to tax attractive and state contributions. Currently, on the market oprate 10 pension funds, which provides its clients with pension plans for 5 years and then can be saved as a single draw funds or annuity, according to the pension plan. The entire pension system is composed of two pillars PAYG and fading based , which are mutually complementary. Due to adverse demographic changes and financial sustainability of the system, it is necessary to reform the pension system. On the basis of economic expertise have been drawn up various options for changes in the voluntary pillar. Due to the necessary legislative changes, there was also a significant change in the pension income insurance scheme and its position was substantially changed. The voluntary nature of pension obligations have been replaced and now have the ability to save clients money into funds with different investment strategies. "Old" pension scheme will operate in parallelly with the new system, but access to it is no longer possible, it is possible that the pension insurance with state contribution in the longer term expires. The implementation of the government will decide next month.