Publication
Title
A universal basic pension for Europe's elderly: options and pitfalls
Author
Abstract
Abstract In this article we explore the implementation of a European basic pension (BP) scheme as a means of combating financial poverty of Europe's elderly. As earlier contributions already outlined the practical and ethical arguments that favour a European basic income, we assume that a basic income is philosophically and ethically justified and that the European Union has a crucial role to play in its implementation. In this article, we broaden the scope of the discussion to examining the various (and often technical) options, difficulties and pitfalls associated with the practical design and implementation of a harmonised European minimum income scheme. We first offer an overview of minimum income guarantees for the elderly in Europe. Second, we make a detailed assessment of the issues involved in the design of a BP. Third, we shed some light on the European dimension of this proposal and conclude with a sketch of three possible BP scenarios. Our findings confirm that it is one thing to be in favour of BP, but another to design a realistic and politically feasible proposal.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Basic income studies. - Berkeley, Calif, 2006, currens
Publication
Berkeley, Calif : Berkeley Electronic Press , 2009
ISSN
2194-6094 [print]
1932-0183 [online]
DOI
10.2202/1932-0183.1119
Volume/pages
4 :1 (2009) , p. 1-26
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
VABB-SHW
Record
Identifier
Creation 31.08.2009
Last edited 13.02.2025
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