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International Comparisons

A Balancing Act: Achieving Adequacy and Sustainability in Retirement Income Reform

News Release

March 4, 2004


Hotel Astoria
Salle Waldorf
103 Rue Royale
1000 Brussels, Belgium

Examining pension and employment reform in Europe and the United States, leading policymakers, business and labor decision makers, and pension experts debate whether and under what conditions it is possible to achieve both adequate and sustainable retirement security, and assess the political climate for reform.

A forum co-hosted by the Centre for European Policy Studies and the AARP Global Aging Program.

Program/Speakers

9:00 - 9:15
Welcome:

Daniel Gros, Director
CEPS
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and
Nancy LeaMond, Director
AARP Global Aging Program
Read Opening Remarks
and
Ms Mary Coughlan, T.D.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ireland
Read Statement

Chair of Morning Session: Daniel Gros, Director, CEPS

9:15 - 9:55
Opening Address:
Sustaining Systems and Ensuring Adequacy: Is it Robbing Peter to Pay Paul?

Theo Langejan, Chairman
Social Protection Committee
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View video clip (RealVideo)

9:55 - 11:15
Getting Tough: Countries Tackle Pension Reforms

Warren McGillivray, Chief
Studies and Operations Branch
International Social Security Association
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Discussion:
The Art of Compromise: Pros and Cons of Approaches to Sustainable Pension Systems

Edward Palmer, Head of Research
National Social Insurance Board, Sweden
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View video clip (RealVideo)

and

R. Kent Weaver, Professor of Public Policy and Government
Georgetown University, USA
Read Remarks
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View video clip (RealVideo)

11:30 - 12:30
What are the Trade-offs? Defined Benefit vs. Defined Contribution Systems
Axel Boersch-Supan, Director
Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Aging,
and Professor, University of Mannheim, Germany
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View video clip (RealVideo)

and

Ron Gebhardtsbauer, Senior Pension Fellow
American Academy of Actuaries, USA
Download Remarks Download Tables
View video clip (RealVideo)

Chair of Afternoon Session: Nancy LeaMond, Director, AARP Global Aging Program

12:30 - 14:00
Luncheon Keynote Address:
Keeping Promises, Managing Expectations: Safeguarding Economic Growth and Stability

António José Cabral, Deputy Director General
Economic and Monetary Affairs
European Commission
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14:05 - 14:25
More Work and Less Play? Prospects for Reinventing Work and Redefining Retirement

Willy Buschak, Acting Director
European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions, Ireland
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View video clip (RealVideo)

14:25 - 15:35
Discussion:
The Nature of Work in the 21st Century: Employment in Later Life - Policies and Practices

Leny van der Heiden-Aantjes, Industrial Relations
Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, The Netherlands
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View video clip (RealVideo)

and

Samantha Mercer, Director
Employers Forum on Age, UK
Read Remarks
Download Presentation
View video clip (RealVideo)

and

Martin Hutsebaut, Administrative Manager
European Trade Union Institute
Read Remarks
View video clip (RealVideo)

and

James Parkel, President
AARP
Read Remarks
View video clip (RealVideo)

15:50 - 16:25
Political Feasibility of Reform: Acting While the Window is Open

David Fairlamb, European Economics and Business Correspondent
Business Week
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16:25 - 16:45
Sharing Responsibility: A Partnership to Promote Sound Pension Schemes and Secure Retirement

Steen Langebaek, President
AGE - European Older People’s Platform
View video clip (RealVideo)

Resources

AGE - European Older People’s Platform

American Academy of Actuaries

Business Week

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)

Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, European Commission

European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions

European Trade Union Institute

Georgetown University Department of Government

International Social Security Association (ISSA)

Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Aging

Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, The Netherlands

The National Social Insurance Board