This paper examines the evolution of the pension system in Britain. In particular, it focuses on the shift from pay-as-you-go, state-run defined-benefit pensions to individual, private-sector, funded defined-contribution accounts. It looks at three issues in this reform: the financing of the...

This report reviews defined contribution pension return guarantees typically made by governments in connection with pension privatizations. Finance theory related to the pricing of options provides a unifying framework for evaluating the cost of these guarantees. The report considers two types...

This report looks at pension reform recently undertaken in Poland, but draws conclusions with wider applicability. It examines the motivation for reform, the struggle of progressively minded experts and politicians to advance the reform agenda, the architecture of the new system, and issues...

This report highlights the World Bank's thinking and worldwide involvement in pension reform. Both are driven by the Bank's mandate to help countries develop economically and to reduce poverty. The Bank has four key concerns in working with clients on pension policy: 1) short-term financing and...

Social investment funds account for a growing share of the World Bank's portfolio in the social protection and human development areas. Given the demand-driven nature of these social funds, systematic feedback from beneficiaries is an essential evaluation tool. This study reviews the experience...

The regulation and supervision of pension funds is a critical part of building public confidence in a funded-pension system. This report argues that confidence is best bolstered by an independent, autonomous, and transparent supervision agency, particularly when previous systems have failed. The...

Many developing countries have relied on the varied forms of diversified secondary technical education as the main venue for training skilled workers and mid-level technicians. But there have been numerous and strong critics against this mode of technical education. As an alternative, the...

After discussing the evolution of the policy dialogue in Hungary, this report broadly describes the reform of the pay-as-you-go public pension system and its partial privatization as legislated in July 1997. Through a combination of a debt and tax financed transition, the first partial pension...

This report summarizes key aspects of unemployment benefit schemes across the world and presents information on their characteristics in a cross-country comparative context. Unemployment benefit schemes can be of insurance type (paid from employer/worker contributions to provide insurance...

This report serves as a conceptual background piece for the development of the Social Strategy Paper (SSP). To develop the conceptual underpinnings, the objectives and instruments of strategy papers (SP) are viewed under the rubric of Social Risk Management (SRM). SRM consists of public measures...