Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2014
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO EXAMINE THE INCOME redistributive effects of the French system of social security in the light of the change of government that took place in 1981. Now, four years since the Socialists took over, it is time to assess their performance in an area in which many changes have been brought about in recent years as a result of the slow-down in economic growth. In this paper, social security includes the four following ‘risks’: health and sickness insurance, family policy, pensions and unemployment compensation. By income redistribution is meant ‘vertical’ redistribution from rich to poor or vice versa.
1 The research programme, sponsored and coordinated jointly by the European Centre for Work and Society (Maastricht) and the European Institute of Education and Social Policy (Paris) benefited from the support of the Anglo‐German Foundation (London Office), the Tercentenary Foundation (Stockholm), the European Cultural Foundation (Amsterdam) and the Queen Juliana Foundation (Utrecht).
2 CREDOC (Research Centre on Working Conditions) has issued a series of four reports describing the results of its 1978 survey, namely Les ressources de familles et l’impact des prestations familiales (1981), Les prestations maladie par catégorie de familles (1982), Les retraités et leurs ressources (1983) and L’imposition parafiscale des différentes catégories de sakariés en 1978, G. Hatchuel, 1984.
3 Martin, Marie‐Elisabeth, ‘Les disparités de revenus entre catégories sociales en 1975’, ÉEAconomie et Statistique, No. 117, 12 1979 CrossRefGoogle Scholar, and GeneviéveCanceil, Economie et Statisfique, forthcoming, 1985.
4 ‘Social Security Problems. Points for Consideration’, Communication from the Commission to the Council (82)716, EEC, November 1982.
5 This is a possibility open to older workers, not an obligation to leave the labour force at that age.
6 Early retirement was encouraged to improve the labour market situation. The early retired who used to get 70% of their last wage, now receive 65% up to a ceiling and 50% beyond that ceiling.
7 ‘L’indemnisation du chômage en France et à l’étranger’, CERC (Centre for the Study of Income and Costs), No. 62, 1982.