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The German Social Welfare System

The German Social Welfare System. Introduction. The social welfare system of a state … is a key factor for the economy. shapes the social structure. prevents poverty. Introduction. Role of Social Policy in the EU Concepts to describe different welfare states

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The German Social Welfare System

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  1. The German Social Welfare System

  2. Introduction The social welfare system of a state … • is a key factor for the economy. • shapes the social structure. • prevents poverty. Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  3. Introduction • Role of Social Policy in the EU • Concepts to describe different welfare states • Historic development of the German welfare system and its basic characteristics • Situation of today Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  4. The EU – Social Agenda • Lisbon Agenda 2000 / Review 2005: • Focus on Growth and Jobs • 20 million jobs, 70% employment rate by 2010 • Social Agenda: European labour market • enable workers to take pension and social security entitlements with them • support the Member States in reforming pensions and health care Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  5. The EU - The Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000) Article 33 Family and professional life • […] • To reconcile family and professional life, everyone shall have the right to protection from dismissal for a reason connected with maternity and the right to paid maternity leave and to parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child. Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  6. The EU - The Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000) Article 34 Social security and social assistance • The Union recognises and respects the entitlement to social security benefits and social services providing protection in cases such as maternity, illness, industrial accidents, dependency or old age, and in the case of loss of employment, in accordance with the rules laid down by Community law and national laws and practices. Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  7. Describing Welfare States • Three Types of Welfare States • Liberal • Social-democratic • Conservative (Esping-Andersen (1990): The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism) Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  8. Liberal Welfare States • Market-based social security schemes • Private schemes • Means-testing • Limited benefits • “[…] a blend of a relative equality of poverty among state-welfare recipients, market differentiated welfare among the majorities.”(Esping-Andersen, p.27) • Examples: USA, UK Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  9. Social-democraticWelfare States • Universalism and equality • Redistribution of wealth • High benefits • State organized childcare • Encourage women to work • Examples: Scandinavian countries Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  10. Conservative Welfare States • Maintain the differences between social classes • No redistribution of wealth • Traditional role models are protected • Example: Germany Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  11. German Social Welfare System • Unemployment insurance • Health care insurance • Pension insurance • Long-term care insurance • Social assistance Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  12. Bismarck Area and Weimar Republic • 1883 Workers’ health insurance • 1884 Industrial accident insurance • 1889 Invalidity and old-age insurance • 1911 Reich insurance system extended to civil servants / white-collar workers • 1927 Unemployment insurance • Characteristics: • Contribution financed, not tax financed, no pay-as-you-go • Contributions shared: 50% paid by employer, 50% by employee • Widely supported by middle class Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  13. Post war GermanyKonrad Adenauer (1949-1963 ), CDU Ludwig Erhardt (1963 – 1966), CDU The Social market economy(Alfred Müller Armack) “A system which allowed business and finance to operate under the conditions of free market trading yet which worked within the legislative framework of industrial democracy at plant, company and industry level and within a statutory social security scheme seemed to enjoy the best of both worlds.”(Nigel Reeves, 1995, 213) Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  14. The Social Market EconomyDie soziale Marktwirtschaft • Free market trading • The industrial harmony Laws of Codetermination • Mitbestimmungsgesetz 1951 • Betriebsverfassungsgesetz 1952 • Monetary policy of the Bundesbank (Federal Bank of Germany) • Extensive social security scheme Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  15. Post War Germany - The Economic Miracle • 1957 Pension reform (Rentenreformgesetz) • Pay-as-you-go principle • Pension adjustments linked to gross wages • Characteristics of the welfare system: • Based on traditional role models: Women as mothers and carers, male breadwinner, “family wage” / splitting of incomefull-employment, standard employments • Core aim: securing the achieved standard of living of families Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  16. Growth of the government sector from the 60s to mid 70sGrand Coalition (1966-1969), SPD and FDP (1969–1982) • 1966 / 67 Recession: government investment programme (7.5 billion DM) • 1967 Stability Law (Law for the Promotion of Economic Stability and Growth) • Public sector grew about 1.3 million employees between 1960-1973 (~60%) • 1968 Average unemployment benefit: 68% of prior net wage • 1972 Pension reform law: age of entitlement 63 Euro 200: France, Germany and Modern Europe

  17. The Social Expenditure Rate Sozialleistungsquote Source: Wewer, G. (1998), Bilanz der Ära Kohl, p. 348, Statistisches Bundesamt

  18. Rolling back the welfare state in the 80s?Helmut Kohl (1982 – 1998), CDU • 1992 Pension reform: pension adjustments linked to the net wage, age of entitlement 65 • 1992 Social expenditure rate: ~70% in the former GDR • 1995 Long-term / nursery care insurance, pay-as-you-go (Pflegeversicherung)

  19. Social security Pension Unemployment Health care Long-term / nursery care Insurance-based Wage-related benefits Financed by contributions “Conservative” Social assistance Alleviation of the poor Means-tested Fixed levels of benefits Tax financed “Liberal” The Safety Net 

  20. Social Assistance Rate • Social assistance rate: claimants of social assistance not living in care institutions / population • Before 1991: former FRG • Source: Stastisches Bundesamt (2003) Sozialhilfe in Deutschland, • http://www.destatis.de/presse/deutsch/pk/2003/sozialhilfe_2003i.pdf

  21. The Situation of today – ReformsGerhard Schröder (1998-2005), SPD • „In an ageing society it is fair to expect people to take more responsibility for themselves, especially concerning health care and pensions. It is fair not to cripple citizens‘ willingnes to work by excessive non-labour costs“ (Agenda 2010,p.4) • 2002: Gesetz zur Reform der Rentenversicherung („Riester“-pension): • Promotion of capital-covered private pensions, • Times of child-raising taken into account • no adjustments of pensions in 2004 • 2004: Reform of Health Care: • quarterly fee of 10 €

  22. “Harz”-Laws • Hartz I (2001): • Personnel Service Agencies • Job-AQTIV Laws • Hartz II (2003): • Jobcenters • “Ich-AGs” / “Me-plcs”: support for one-person start-ups • Hartz III (2004): • Restructuring and renaming of the Bundesanstalt für Arbeit (= Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Federal employment agency) • Hartz IV (2005): • Means-tested Unemployment Benefit II

  23. The Social-insurance Scheme

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