Social Security Reform in Brazil: Achievements and Remaining Challenges

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Social Security Reform in Brazil: Achievements and Remaining Challenges

Author Info

Fabio Giambiagi
Luiz de Mello

Abstract

This paper reviews the main elements of social security reform in Brazil since 1998 and discusses areas where further policy action is yet to be taken to ensure the sustainability of the social-security system over time. Outlays on pensions paid to private-sector workers have risen as a result of population ageing and the increase in the value of the minimum wage in real terms, to which the minimum pension is linked. Some features of existing social protection programmes, including means-tested old-age and disability-related benefits, reduce the incentives facing workers to seek social security coverage. At the same time, an expansion of the base of contributions to social security has been constrained by widespread labour informality. Further reform will therefore need to focus on options for containing the rise in social security spending while tackling labour informality so as to broaden the base of contributions.

Réforme du système de retraite au Brésil : Réussites et défis
Ce document analyse les réformes du système de retraite brésilien depuis 1998 et propose des éléments d'une réforme complémentaire qui pourraient être mise en place pour assurer la soutenabilité du système de retraite dans la durée. Les dépenses publiques des pensions accordées aux travailleurs retraités du secteur privé ont augmenté dû au vieillissement de la population et à l'accroissement de la valeur du salaire minimum en termes réels, auquel la pension minimale est indexée. Certains éléments des programmes de protection sociale existants, y compris les transferts de revenu aux personnes âgées et aux invalides, n'incitent pas les travailleurs à être couverts par la sécurité sociale. En même temps, l'informalité très répandue des marchés du travail constitue une contrainte à l'expansion de la recette des cotisations sociales. Par conséquent, des réformes complémentaires devront mettre en oeuvre des dispositifs visant la contention de l'accroissement des dépenses publiques des pensions et à la réduction de l?informalité du travail de façon à augmenter la recette des cotisations sociales.

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Paper provided by OECD, Economics Department in its series OECD Economics Department Working Papers with number 534.

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Date of creation: 06 Dec 2006
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Handle: RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:534-en

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Private Pensions

This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

NEP-ALL-2007-01-02 (All new papers)
NEP-PBE-2007-01-02 (Public Economics)

Cited by:
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Chung Tran & Juergen Jung, 2007. "The Extension of Social Security Coverage in Developing Countries," Caepr Working Papers 2007-026, Center for Applied Economics and Policy Research, Economics Department, Indiana University Bloomington. [Downloadable!]

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