Justifying pension reforms: comparing policy discourses in Norway and the UK

Patrick Ring*, Rune Ervik, Tord Skogdal Linden

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
205 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The latest UK and Norwegian state pension reforms have reflected contrasting policy design in the balance of private pensions, savings and state provision. Nevertheless, we argue both governments have in many ways adopted strikingly similar approaches in seeking public acceptance of these potentially controversial reforms, employing a similar repertoire of discursive elements to persuade their populations about their logic and rationality. Based on critical analysis of government policy papers, speeches and parliamentary debates, we find both countries emphasise ‘sustainability’ and 'fairness' within an increasingly individualised context where both systems are characterized as facilitating individuals’ efforts to attain security in retirement through ‘choice’ or ‘flexibility’. Significantly, contrasting symbolic metaphors are adopted to situate these reforms, and their proponents, within the heritage and traditions of their different welfare systems, which we find is a key element in successfully implementing the reforms. We note the implications of this research for the analysis of European state pension reform.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)306-326
Number of pages21
JournalEuropean Journal of Social Security
Volume22
Issue number3
Early online date9 Sept 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2020

Keywords

  • fairness
  • individual responsibility
  • pension systems
  • public pensions
  • sustainability
  • Fairness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Economics, Econometrics and Finance (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Public Administration

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  • Introduction

    Ring, P., 25 Mar 2024, Global Pension Challenges: Pensions, Saving and Retirement in the Twenty-First Century. Routledge , 35 p. (Contemporary Issues in Finance).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

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