Comparative Analysis of Minimum Income Protection for Older Persons in Europe: The Cases of Denmark, Italy, Slovenia and the UK

Pension policy is vitally important for contemporary societies. From a policy perspective, pension systems represent one of the cornerstones of contemporary welfare states. Protection against age-related risks is a central aim of welfare programs, and pension spending represents a huge part of the welfare budget. From an analytical perspective, the study of pensions sheds light on the complex structure of social rights and on the emergence and evolution of welfare institutions. This is the case of Europe where welfare programs – and old-age pensions in particular – are well established programs that cover large parts of the population and provide a crucial source of revenues.