Europe and pensions, confronting risks and policies

This paper examines the European variety in pension structures and reforms. The European Member States deal with the same pension risks in very different legal ways. Economically and sociologically it is commonly believed that there is a common European pension policy. Economically this can be explained because of the economic basis of the European Union. Economists tend to analyse the pension issues on the basis of some common economic parameters such as economic risks. Sociologists tend even to refer to the so-called "European Social Model". From a legal perspective both the economic and sociological analysis's are to be questioned. The legal differences in pension systems remain and even become wider. There is no coherence between the different research options. It is clear that a more coordinated research should be undertaken.status: publishe