Sustainability and adequacy of pensions in EU countries. A cross ...

economy. What is also required is not to lose sight of adequacy considerations when
introducing fiscal consolidation measures. In the light of the financial market breakdown, it is
not so obvious anymore whether a move towards the private funded 2nd pillar still remains
the right course? Or, are parametric adjustments to the Pay-as-you-go system sufficient? What
regulations are required, at the national and the European level? What simpler, more direct,
policies to address poverty in old age, especially those that do not stigmatise poor older
people? Is raising social minimum pension levels to the level of national poverty line the way
forward and whether is it politically feasible? What balance between incentives to work and
save, but without compromising provision of a social safety net?
Conclusions: The cross-national perspective presented in this paper substantiates the wide
variations that exist in the challenges faced by EU countries in ensuring both the sustainability
of pension systems as well as maintaining adequacy of pension incomes. In reality, no single
solution fits all these varying circumstances, especially in view of the differential impact of the
recent financial, economic and fiscal crises, as well as the varying extent of population ageing
challenges.
At the outset we quoted the three questions raised by Gauguin at the end of the 19 th century.
It is now, we submit, the time to carefully frame the answers to his third question – our future
direction, and the welfare of our pensioners in the 2050s – a time past the date that many
current readers will have themselves retired. While recognising that each country will have its
own approaches, there is a need to ensure that its processes are based on sound economic,
financial and fiscal fundamentals – approaches that would avoid a repeat of the 2008-2009
crashes. And also, the pension elements of any packages are properly planned and executed,
having learned useful lessons from the crisis.
In the process, each country will find a solution fitting to its own economic circumstances, in
alignment with its existing and past pension policies, appropriate to the pace in the ageing of
its population and also in line with their citizens’ aspirations towards the size of the welfare
state. A review of fundamentals is essential at this crucial juncture, for all concerned,
especially in making a fresh assessment of the social objectives aimed at in the pension policy.
Also, in moving forward, it is important to re-examine whether, and how, recent policy reforms
compromise the pension income adequacy of future retirees, and what policies can potentially
improve both the sustainability and the adequacy.
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