Documents Wöss, Josef 9 results

"For many people all over Europe, there is an understanding and an expectation that in old age they will be taken care of by the state. High social security contributions throughout the three or four decades of a working life are rationalised by the prospect of a straightforward transition out of the labour force when the time comes. While this was a reasonable expectation in decades past, a number of factors have combined to cause people all across the continent to feel very anxious about what awaits them once it is time to exit the labour force into retirement. The well-documented demographic transition of many rich European countries is a big factor, as greying populations start to weigh on the sparser younger generations, leading to increasing dependency ratios that would cause any social security system to buckle. The Great Recession has not helped matters, and the austerity measures still crippling many vulnerable European nations will not make anyone in these countries feel optimistic about their post-working lives. The following papers look at different threads of the new reality of ageing in Europe, from pension reform and prolonging the working life to more qualitative aspects such as an analysis of the quality of life of the elderly across Europe. They serve to inform and advise on an important issue that will affect everyone in Europe at some point in their lives."

"The present report describes the structure, the importance, the actors and the evolution of occupational welfare (OW) in Austria, focusing on pensions and unemployment provisions. Based on an overview of the main characteristics of the Austrian welfare state and its tradition of ‘social partnership', comprehensive information is given on occupational pensions and welfare schemes protecting employees from the risk of unemployment. Findings collected in interviews with key social partner representatives from both the employees' and the employers' side complete the information. Austrian OW is not well developed. Notwithstanding attempts to increase the coverage of occupational schemes, especially in the field of pensions, this coverage is still limited to a minority of workers. The recent economic and financial crisis has further limited the interest of social partners and policymakers in occupational pensions. The report is mainly based on a review of research on the Austrian welfare state, including statistical and administrative data (where available); an analysis of collective branch agreements; and interviews with key stakeholders."

"Whether it is in the context of austerity policies, the EU2020 strategy, or the exigencies of competitiveness and globalisation, sooner or later the discussion comes round to ageing, pensions and retirement ages. In this, the fourth ETUI Policy Brief European Economic and Employment Policy of 2011, Josef Wöss and Erik Türk, both from the Austrian Chamber of Labour, Vienna, examine these demographic issues. They emphasise the importance of looking, not as is usually done, at the ratio of elderly persons to those of working age (demographic dependency) but rather at the number of benefit recipients (pensioners and the unemployed) compared with the number of people actually working (economic dependency). The change in focus has two main consequences. First, the expected rise in dependency ratios is considerably less dramatic. Second, a whole range of variables comes into play as a means to slow the rise in economic dependency, whereas the only way to change demographic dependency is to raise the statutory retirement age. In particular, the crucial importance of reducing both unemployment and inactivity among the working age population is revealed."

"Die deutsche Gesellschaft altert. Aus der sich wandelnden Relation von jüngeren und älteren Menschen sollte nicht unvermittelt auf Belastungen durch den demografischen Wandel geschlossen werden. Stattdessen muss das Verhältnis von Erwerbstätigen zu Bezieherinnen und Beziehern von Arbeitslosengeld und ähnlichen Transferleistungen in den Blick genommen worden. Entsprechend werden in diesem IMK-Report anstelle der rein demografischen Relationen also ökonomische Abhängigkeitsverhältnisse analysiert.Dem Arbeitsmarkt kommt damit eine zentrale Rolle bei der Milderung der Folgen des demografischen Wandels zu. Potenziale für eine höhere Erwerbsbeteiligung sind vorhanden und sollten genutzt werden, das betrifft vor allem Frauen, Ältere und Migranten. Wenn sich die deutsche Erwerbsbeteiligung künftig schwedischem Vorbild annähern würde, und die demografische Entwicklung entsprechend neueren Vorausberechnungen eintritt, ändern sich die ökonomischen Abhängigkeitsverhältnisse in einem sehr überschaubaren Umfang, der gut bewältigt werden kann."