ISSA International Research Conference

Ensuring adequate and sustainable social security – The key to a positive economic and social impact

The ISSA International Research Conference will take place in Jerusalem from 3 to 5 November 2014. The Conference, organized by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and the National Insurance Institute of Israel, is expected to bring together more than 130 researchers, policy-makers, social security administrators and other social security professionals.

The Conference provides a global platform for the debate and discussion of key themes concerning social security, both now and in the future. It will include debate on a range of important issues, including which benefits and services social security should provide, how these are financed and the impact of provision on economic development and social inclusion.

This Conference will focus on two different but interrelated questions:

How does a wider definition of adequacy and sustainability influence social security policies and programmes?
How do the design and delivery of social security benefits and services impact individual behaviour at the micro level, and economic development and social inclusion at the macro level?
The Conference sessions are described below.

1. Plenary session: A wider definition of sustainability – the long-term financing of adequate benefits
The questions of adequacy and sustainability are at the heart of decisions affecting the future of social security. But these elements are often defined and measured in solely financial terms, which overlooks the wider dimensions of both issues. This session will discuss broader definitions of retirement and unemployment benefit adequacy and long-term sustainability in the light of major socio-economic and environmental trends. The session will feature presentations from experts and showcase results from ISSA projects covering these issues.

2. Parallel sessions: Multidimensional adequacy and wider notions of sustainability
a) Multidimensional adequacy
The adequacy of a benefit is more than simply the amount of cash payments. But what are the different elements of adequacy? This session will consider the use and definition of a multi-variable definition of both retirement and unemployment benefit adequacy.

b) Sustainability and social security
By taking into account the longer term constraints on the economy and the impact of demographic trends, climate change and changes in the labour market and family structures, what can we say about the long term sustainability of social security systems? What measures can social security policy-makers and institutions take to address these challenges and mitigate their impacts?

These parallel sessions will each consist of presentations followed by 30 minutes for discussion and questions followed by a break out session of around 60 minutes where participants share experiences and ideas before reporting back.

3. Plenary session: An analysis of the economic and social impacts of social security
A key objective of social security is to support economic development and social inclusion. This session discusses what impacts social security has and can have in these areas and how benefits and services can be designed and delivered to achieve these goals. The session will feature presentations from experts and feature results from related ISSA projects managed by Technical Commissions.

4. Parallel sessions: Benefit design and economic incentives
a) Benefit design and economic incentives.
How do the design and delivery of benefits affect incentives to return to work and to save for retirement? What lessons can we learn from various country experiences in the design of disability, unemployment, health and retirement systems? The session will consider latest research on the incentives created by social security systems and their impacts.

b) The impact of social security: social inclusion and macro-economic effects.
What are the key impacts of social security on economic development and social cohesion? What are the challenges of measuring this impact? The session will analyse the links between social security and social inclusion, inequality, poverty and economic growth.

These parallel sessions will each consist of presentations followed by 30 minutes for discussion and questions followed by a break out session of around 60 minutes where participants share experiences and ideas before reporting back.

5. Overview of findings & implications for ISSA members
This session will open with a keynote speech bringing together the key themes of the conference, as well as a summary presentation of the main messages and implications of the findings for ISSA member organizations from the conference.