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The challenge of pension reform in Georgia: Non‐contributory pensions and elderly poverty
Author(s) -
Nutsubidze Tamila,
Nutsubidze Khatuna
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international social security review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.349
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1468-246X
pISSN - 0020-871X
DOI - 10.1111/issr.12129
Subject(s) - generosity , pension , poverty , social security , order (exchange) , economics , population , fiscal sustainability , population ageing , development economics , economic growth , business , labour economics , public economics , political science , fiscal policy , finance , medicine , macroeconomics , market economy , environmental health , law
Georgia's national social security system offers almost universal non‐contributory basic pension coverage. The basic pension has, to date, proved effective in dealing with old‐age poverty. But Georgia's fiscal constraints and ageing population also highlight the importance of improving the pension system, in order to ensure its sustainability. This article presents policy reform choices, which suggest that, in Georgia, pension reform might include increasing the statutory retirement ages and reducing the generosity of benefits through means testing. The case of the Georgian non‐contributory basic pension might hold value for some low‐ and middle‐income countries that are considering the implementation of, or expanding coverage under, a non‐contributory pension programme.