This paper analyzes the evolution of the social security system in Uruguay, from the 19th century to the re-institutionalization of the “Banco de Previsión Social” (BPS) in 1986. It is common to consider that the legislation of retirement began in 1896 with the foundation of the first fund;...

Protection of unemployed workers constituted a subject of concern in the Uruguayan politic agenda already in the early 20th century. The problem was tried to be solved basically through three instruments: retirement by dismissal (“jubilación por despido”) and unemployment insurance,...

During the first half of the 20th century the Uruguayan government tried to implement, although with no success, a general unemployment insurance (UI) scheme for workers in the private sector, which included an employment service. The only time that employers´ traditional opposition to an...

The Uruguayan pension system has been recorded as one of the most advanced in the region, being a pillar of the protection policies of the country. However, the financial crisis of the system and the discussions about the cost of social security has been a constant in the national debate. In...

Theoretically deduced concern about a declining legitimacy of the welfare state has been expressed regularly over the last thirty years. However, in that period empirical studies have repeatedly shown a permanent and substantial popular supportfor welfare. This naismatch might be due to two...