Abstract

This volume presents the recent experiences of pension reform in seven countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Faced with common problems of ageing societies and constraints on taxation levels, all are increasingly passing responsibility for saving for retirement to citizens. However, there is enormous variety between countries in the degree to which the state intervenes to mitigate the risks which the individual can face in saving for a pension.
In this book, Gregg McClymont and Andy Tarrant have assembled an interesting collection of chapters that reflect on recent experiences of pension reforms in the United Kingdom and six other countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden….To conclude, this short book…provides a great starting point for understanding the challenges that countries face when reforming their systems towards sustainable (pre-funded) pensions. I found the book enjoyable and interesting to read and would strongly recommend it to JPEF readers.
Gregg McClymont was formerly the Shadow Pensions Minister in the Labour Party and MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East in Scotland, UK

Andy Tarrant is a Senior Parliamentary Assistant in the UK government