Why are more redistributive social security systems smaller? A median voter approach

Köthenbürger, Marko; Poutvaara, Panu; Profeta, Paola (2005): Why are more redistributive social security systems smaller? A median voter approach. IZA Discussion Papers / Forschungsinstitut für Zukunft und Arbeit, Bonn, 1831

Abstract

We suggest a political economy explanation for the stylized fact that intragenerationally more redistributive social security systems are smaller. We relate the stylized fact to an efficiency-redistribution trade-off to be resolved by political process. The inefficiency of social security financing is due to endogenous labor supply. Using data on eight European countries, we find that the stylized fact and a considerable degree of cross-country variation in contribution rates can be explained by the median voter model.

• Item Type: Paper (Discussion Paper)
• Faculties: Economics; Economics > Chairs > CESifo-Professorship for International Institutional Comparisons
• Subjects: 300 Social sciences > 330 Economics
• Language: English