The concept of benchmarking, originally developed as a tool to improve the performance of business enterprises by learning from others' "best practice", is now increasingly applied in the areas of employment and social policy. Rising internal and external pressures on national welfare states,...

This paper analyzes national processes of pension reform in countries with systems of old-age provision largely following the Bismarckian type (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden). Operating on a defined benefit/pay-as-you-go basis and mainly financed out of wage-based social contributions,...

Die vorliegende Arbeit analysiert rentenpolitische Entscheidungsprozesse in Ländern, deren Alterssicherungssysteme weitgehend dem Bismarckmodell folgen (Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien, Österreich, Schweden). Da sie typischerweise definierte Leistungen im Wege des Umlageverfahrens gewähren...

This paper analyzes national processes of pension reform in countries with systems of old-age provision largely following the Bismarckian type (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden). Operating on a defined benefit/pay-as-you-go basis and mainly financed out of wage-based social contributions,...