Pensions for Reduced Earning Capacity and Health Status

The prevalence of pensions for reduced earning capacity fluctuates considerably within Europe. In Scandinavian countries, the rate is over 15% for persons aged 50 to 64; in Germany, it is 5%; in Greece, it is below 3%. This project examines the extent to which these differences are attributable to demography, health status, or incentive structures in social insurance schemes. It is based on SHARE data and is laid out long-term. The findings of initial project phases show that the health status within a country's labor force has a bearing on the probability of workers receiving a pension for reduced earning capacity; this influence nevertheless vanishes almost completely in the international comparison.