The objective of this work, is to give an outlining of the history and current difficulties of the social security system. The social security system generally is agreed to be one of the most successful and popular social programs. The welfare state and pension system, which are based upon an implicit contract that each generation will honour their obligations, to pay taxes while in work, in exchange for benefits when retired, evolved during de 1950S and 1960S, when economic growth was high and when the immediate cost of increasing benefits or including more beneficiaries was slight. But the ageing of population, the decrease in the age of the exit from the gainful work, and employment difficulties has been same of the most profound structural changes in the past 25 years. This work offers, an analyse about these changes in the European countries, with an especially reference to Portugal. The period spent in gainful work is shrinking, with early exit at the upper end, and the extension of schooling at the lower end of the work life, contributing to the changing of work and retirement In addition to this situation, the period spent in retirement is also expanding in both directions as a result of early exit at the lower end, and increasing life expectancy at the upper end. Thus, what has been /'the normal life course" is being massively reorganized, and the relations between age groups and generations are being redefined. Economic and demographic projections make clear, that a growing number of retires, living to older and older ages, will be supported in the future by smaller percentage of the population that is actevily at work. The present and the coming era, are marked by a keen preocupation with problems of work and ageing. Portugal is refered as a country where these general trends. and current dificults are relevant There exist little concensus conceming what should be done about the problems of social security, although there was considerable agreement as to the economic effects of the current system.

O objectivo deste trabalho, é delinear a história e as dificuldades correntes da Segurança Social. O sistema de Segurança Social é geralmente aceite como um dos programas sociais mais populares e bem sucedidos. A Segurança Social e o seu esquema de pensões, são apoiados num contrato implícito, em que cada geração se compromete cumprir as suas obrigações, pagando contribuições enquanto está no período activo, em troca de benefícios , quando da perda de rendimentos, com especial relevância no direito à reforma. Este sistema, evoluiu durante os anos 50 e 60, quando o crescimento económico foi grande e o custo imediato do aumento dos benefícios, ou a inclusão de mais beneficiários, foi lenta. Esta experiência do pós-guerra, dum sistema de pensões generoso, criou uma percepção popular de que o contrato entre gerações era gratificante, pois o que se pagava era muito menos do que se retirava No entanto, o envelhecimento da população, a diminuição da idade da saída do mercado de trabalho, e as dificuldades de emprego, têm sido, algumas das profundas mudanças estruturais, nos últimos 25 anos. Este trabalho, proporciona, uma aproximação a estas mudanças nos Países Europeus, com uma referência muito especial a Portugal.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Mestrado em Economia e Política Social