Two new books edited by the CISS

The CISS edited two new books:

1. "Trabajo y Envejecimiento. Teorías Emergentes y Perspectivas Empíricas" along with the CIEDESS and Cajas de Chile.
2. "Haciendo lo mejor para las familias" with the OECD and the CIEDESS.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these books, contact CISS through the mail publicaciones@ciss.org.mx or send your application through the Internet portal.

Welfare measures

The Americas Social Security Report 2014 will study welfare measures and quality of life. In this regard, Angus Deaton (2007) estimates the welfare (see chart) in his work entitled "Income, Aging, Health and Wellbeing around the World: Evidence from the Gallup World Poll." Complete paper here.

Call for papers: Empirical analysis of Social Capital and Development in Latin America

The InterAmerican Conference on Social Security (CISS) and the Universidad Iberoamericana

(Ibero) are jointly organizing the conference "Empirical analysis of Social Capital and Development

in Latin America". The aim of this conference is to present and socialize empirical research on

social capital and its relationship to social development in Latin America using different surveys

available in the region that address social capital dimensions. Those interested in sending your paper can access this link where you will find details of the canference and key dates.

The Americas Social Security Report 2013

The CISS annual Report is already available here

"The challenge of creating decent jobs for young people"

Last wednesday held the Forum "Thinking of a inclusive Mexico: gaps and employment inequality in Mexico" with the theme "The challenge of creating decent jobs for young people" conducted jointly by the Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS ) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The main messages of the Forum were:

i) In Mexico, the proportion of young people aged between 15 and 29 who neither study nor work ("Ninis") is 15 percent above the average of the countries of Latin America, which is 13 percent.

 ii) The youth population in the country suffers from poverty and low levels of schooling.

 iii) These young people are likely to be recruited by organized crime, since 40 per cent of alleged offenders under federal jurisdiction are for this age group.

 iv) More than half of the unemployed in the country are young, and a quarter of those with a job, work in the informal sector, which leads to precarious employment for this age group.

 v) There is a disconnect between school and labor markets.

Have the labor markets recovered in the decade in the countries of the continent?

Have the labor markets recovered in the decade in the countries of the continent? The following figures compare the level of employment when the economy had its peak before the crises. This allows quantifying “gaps” in employment, i.e., the difference between the observed level and the “potential” (in reference to the peak) level of employment. We can observe three patterns (all in relation to earliest peak):

i) In Canada, Colombia, Mexico and the United States there is an employment gap by 2012.

ii) In Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay there is not an employment gap, i.e. the level of employment is similar to the potential employment.

ii) In Argentina, Panama and Venezuela current employment is higher than potential employment

Figure

Employment and Potential Employment across the Business Cycle, 2000-2010

Note: Employment calculated using working age population 15+.

Source: Own calculations using International Labour Organization (ILO), LABORSTA

For more information, The Americas Social Security Report 2013 will soon be available on the website of the CISS.

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years – Fairness, Work, Retirement, and Social Protection 2012

Following with the summary of 10 years of Americas Social Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas Social Security Report 2012 – Fairness, Work, Retirement, and Social Protection. The Report contributes to the debate over how regulations on work and retirement should be reformed, and how social security should evolve so as to make retirement a benefit and not a costly event. The Report provides statistics about main variables that characterize labor markets across the lifecycle,  summarizes the main hypothesis provided by the social sciences on the phenomenon of retirement age, and provides a detailed compilation of information and a significant actuarial analysis to obtain simple measurements of pension retirement benefits that can be compared between systems.

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years – Children and Social Security 2011

Following with the summary of 10 years of Americas Social Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas Social Security Report 2011 – Children and Social Security. The Report evaluates the way in which social security is supporting children, the most vulnerable individuals in any society. Among the main recommendations are: i) to establish universal coverage in healthcare and financial protection for small children (through family allowances), specially for those who live in adverse conditions; ii) to revise the portfolio of programs to assess whether they are the most effective tool to contribute to child well-being; iii) to include gender issues as main components of programs; and iv) to make an effort to increase educational levels.  

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years – Social Security and Labor Markets through Economic Cycles 2010

Following with the summary of 10 years of Americas Social Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas Social Security Report 2010 – Social Security and Labor Markets through Economic Cycles. The Report studies the relationship between economic cycles and social insurance. It is based on two facts: i) social security exists precisely to deal with economic downturns; and ii) by the time the topic of the Report is decided, it was clear that many countries were in a recession that some economist forecasted to be deep and long lasting and unemployment rates had risen considerably. Thus, the Report analyzed issues such as unemployment insurance and the lack of it in many countries, the challenges faced by financially weakened national governments to face the problems of the lack of coverage, and the structural deficiencies of pension systems.

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years – Evaluation in Systems of Social Security 2009

Following with the summary of 10 years of Americas Social Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas Social Security Report 2009 – Evaluation in Systems of Social Security. The Report discusses the evaluation of social security systems, understood as a way to measure and manage the activities, results and expectations. The Report focuses on presenting the most applicable approaches to the evaluation of social security and not making specific recommendations.

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years – Innovating Models of Social Insurance 2008

Following with the summary of 10 years of Americas Social Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas Social Security Report 2008 – Innovating Models of Social Insurance. The Report provides The Report provides information about the best general operational and organizational practices, and highlights what the role of the regulators should be increasing the productivity of the social insurance programs. Identify critical aspects of general application that may help social security agencies in improve its operations, services and productivity.

The CISS participated in the 17 th International Conference of the ISSA

The Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS) participated in the 17th International Social Security Association (ISSA) International Conference of Social Security Actuaries and Statisticians, with the paper "Indicators of Pension Benefits in Latin America and the Caribbean "presented by Act. Martha Miranda. The conference was held in Berlin, Germany from 30 May to 1 June 2012, at the invitation of the German Federal Pension Insurance. This meeting was held on a triennial to promote actuarial research and applied techniques.

 

The Americas Social Segurity Report celebrates 10 years - The Challenges of Aging and Disability 2006

Following with the summary of 10 years of Americas Social Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas SocialSecurity Report 2007 – Globalization and Social Protection. The Report provides descriptive material about the phenomenon of globalization, the debates around it, the way in which international commerce negotiations have evolved, and the degree to which they affect social protection. It also analyzes the development of unemployment programs as tools of social security to protect population.

The Americas Social Segurity Report celebrates 10 years - The Challenges of Aging and Disability 2006

Following with the summary of 10 years of AmericasSocial Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas Social Security Report2006 – The Challenges of Aging and Disability: Employment and Insurance,International Social Security Agreements. The Report studies persons around statutory retirement age and provides a revision of labor market and social security policies for disabled people. It also analyzes the International Social Security Agreements created to protect workers across boarders.

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years – Labor Markets and the Fragmentation of Social Insurance, Financing for HIV-AIDS by Social Security

Following with the summary of 10 years of AmericasSocial Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas Social SecurityReport 2005: Labor Markets and the Fragmentation of Social Insurance, Financingfor HIV:AIDS by Social Security. This year, the Report seeks to provide a discussion and evaluation based on the economic and social goals of social security. Reviews labor markets in the continent and discusses its relationship to social security schemes and other institutions. In addition, the Report examines fragmentation of social security schemes within countries, social health insurance and labor markets, and HIV/AIDS financing in by social security.  

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years - Evaluation of the Reforms 2003

Following with the summary of 10 years of Americas Social Security Reports, this note will discuss the Americas Social Security Report 2003:Evaluation of the Reforms. By 2003 there were many reforms (or reform plans) in pension schemes and healthcare insurance across the continent. This report integrates, updates the evidence, and documents positive and negative effects of the different reforms of countries in the continent.

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years

The Americas Social Security Report celebrates 10 years since its first publication. Reports have addressed specific topics relevant for social security, intended to provide information to support the decision making process of our members and other public and private entities. The Americas Social Security Report 2013 summarizes the most relevant issues of past reports. In coming days we´ll post the abstracts from 2002 to 2012.

The Americas Social Security Report 2002 – Financing Problemsand Options for Solutions reviews the theory and evidence of the reasons for the financial stress faced by most systems in the continent, and the options available. Demographic changes, low productivity/wage growth, high informality, inadequate reserves management and unbalanced design (between contributions and benefits) put defined benefits systems in an unsustainable situation. While defined contributions systems can help in solving the financial problems, these schemes are not free of financial stress due to the need to finance the transition cost and minimum guarantees. The Report examines five ways  to improve the financial situation of schemes: i)  raise in contributions; ii) limitation of benefits; iii) improving the valuation of benefits by affiliates; iv) increase in public funds (from general revenues) directed to social security; and v)  whole change of model (from defined benefit, to defined contribution in pension systems). Each country should find their own solution.

Inter-American Award for Research on Social Security 2012

Authors interested in participating in the Inter-American Award for Research on Social Security 2012 shall submit their works no later than August 24, 2012 by e-mail to award@ciss.org.mx. The decision of the Inter-American Committee of Evaluation will be posted on November 23, 2012. Here the call for papers.

UN: February 20 World Day of Social Justice

On 20 February the UN celebrates the World Day of Social Justice in order to invite Member States to devote this special day to promote, at national level, specific activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Here the official link to the page of the UN: http://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday/

CISS Health Systems and Insurance Report: 2006-2010 Health Reforms in the Americas

The "CISS Health Systems and Insurance Report: 2006-2010 Health Reforms in the Americas" is already available in the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) : http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers . cfm? abstract_id = 1810010