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Portability of pension, health, and other social benefits : facts, concepts, issues

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  • Holzmann, Robert
  • Koettl, Johannes

Abstract

Portability of social benefits across professions and countries is an increasing concern for individuals and policy makers. Lacking or incomplete transfers of acquired social rights are feared to negatively impact individual labor market decisions as well as capacity to address social risks with consequences for economic and social outcomes. The paper gives a fresh and provocative look on the international perspective of the topic that has so far been dominated by social policy lawyers working within the framework of bilateral agreements; the input by economists has been very limited. It offers an analytical framework for portability analysis that suggests separating the risk pooling, (implicit or actual) pre-funding and redistributive elements in the benefit designand explores the proposed alternative approach for pensions and health care benefits. This promising approach may serve both as a substitute and complement to bi- and multilateral agreements.

Suggested Citation

  • Holzmann, Robert & Koettl, Johannes, 2011. "Portability of pension, health, and other social benefits : facts, concepts, issues," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 62725, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:62725
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    13. Murat G. Kirdar, 2012. "Estimating The Impact Of Immigrants On The Host Country Social Security System When Return Migration Is An Endogenous Choice," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 53(2), pages 453-486, May.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mark Dorfman & Robert Palacios, 2012. "World Bank Support for Pensions and Social Security," World Bank Publications - Reports 13556, The World Bank Group.
    2. Dewen Wang & Nithin Umapathi & Philip O'Keefe, 2013. "Eligibility Thresholds for Minimum Living Guarantee Programs : International Practices and Implications for China," World Bank Publications - Reports 17006, The World Bank Group.
    3. Umapathi, Nithin & Wang, Dewen & O'Keefe, Philip, 2013. "Eligibility thresholds for minimum living guarantee programs : international practices and implications for China," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 83118, The World Bank.
    4. Gloria M. Rubio, 2012. "Building Results Frameworks for Safety Nets Projects," World Bank Publications - Reports 13562, The World Bank Group.
    5. Holzmann, Robert & Pouget, Yann & Vodopivec, Milan & Weber, Michael, 2011. "Severance Pay Programs around the World: History, Rationale, Status, and Reforms," IZA Discussion Papers 5731, IZA Network @ LISER.
    6. Robert Holzmann, 2014. "Old-Age Financial Protection in Malaysia : Challenges and Pptions," World Bank Publications - Reports 21038, The World Bank Group.
    7. Martin Werding & Stuart McLennan, 2011. "International Portability of Health-Cost Coverage," World Bank Publications - Reports 27341, The World Bank Group.
    8. Andrews, Colin & Ovadiya, Mirey & Ribes Ros, Christophe & Wodon, Quentin, 2012. "Cash for work in Sierra Leone : a case study on the design and implementation of a safety net in response to a crisis," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 73719, The World Bank.
    9. Salvador Valdés-Prieto, 2013. "Portability of Social Benefits and International Trade in Services: Some Reflections," CESifo Working Paper Series 4080, CESifo.
    10. Moseiko, Viktoria (Мосейко, Виктория), 2024. "International Regulation of Pensions in the EAEU: Problems and Development Prospects [Международное Регулирование Пенсий В Еаэс: Проблемы И Перспективы Развития]," Eurasian integration: economy, law, politics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, issue 2, pages 63-74.
    11. Anna Cristina d'Addio & Maria Chiara Cavalleri, 2015. "Labour Mobility and the Portability of Social Rights in the EU," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 61(2), pages 346-376.
    12. Martin Werding & Stuart R. McLennan, 2015. "International Portability of Health-Cost Cover: Mobility, Insurance, and Redistribution," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 61(2), pages 484-519.
    13. Werding, Martin & McLennan, Stuart, 2011. "International portability of health-cost coverage : concepts and experience," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 63929, The World Bank.
    14. Yann Pouget & Robert Holzmann & Milan Vodopivec & Michael Weber, 2011. "Severance Pay Programs around the World," World Bank Publications - Reports 27339, The World Bank Group.
    15. Gloria Pasadilla & Manolo Abella, 2012. "Social Protection for Migrant Workers in ASEAN," CESifo Working Paper Series 3914, CESifo.
    16. Robalino, David A. & Weber, Michael, 2013. "Designing and implementing unemployment benefit systems in middle and low income countries : key choices between insurance and savings accounts," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 90348, The World Bank.
    17. Indermit Gill & Johannes Koettl & Truman Packard, 2013. "Full employment: a distant dream for Europe," IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-34, December.
    18. Anwarul Hoda & Durgesh K. Rai, 2019. "Totalisation/Portability of Social Security Benefits: Imperatives for Global Action," Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) Working Paper 379, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi, India.
    19. David Margolis & David Robalino & Friederike Rother & David Newhouse & Mattias Lundberg, 2013. "Youth Employment : A Human Development Agenda for the Next Decade," World Bank Publications - Reports 17620, The World Bank Group.
    20. Dorfman, Mark & Palacios, Robert, 2012. "World Bank support for pensions and social security," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 70925, The World Bank.
    21. Michael Weber & David A. Robalino, 2013. "Designing and Implementing Unemployment Benefit Systems in Middle and Low Income Countries : Key Choices between Insurance and Savings Accounts," World Bank Publications - Reports 20142, The World Bank Group.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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