National pension systems and mass opinion: a case study of confidence, satisfaction and political attitudes in Norway

It is commonly assumed that popular support for national pension systems depends on widespread satisfaction with projected benefit levels among the working age population, and in particular that public support for the system will be jeopardised if the taxpayers do not feel confident about eventually...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of social welfare 2004-04, Vol.13 (2), p.112-123
Main Authors: Bay, Ann-Helén, Pedersen, Axel West
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
confidence in the welfare state
formation of welfare state attitudes
national pension systems
Norway
Old age benefits
Old age insurance
Opinion
Pension schemes
Pensions
Political Attitudes
Public Opinion
Public Support
Satisfaction
Social Policy
Social Security
Welfare State
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Summary:It is commonly assumed that popular support for national pension systems depends on widespread satisfaction with projected benefit levels among the working age population, and in particular that public support for the system will be jeopardised if the taxpayers do not feel confident about eventually receiving the promised benefits. On the basis of Norwegian survey data, two sets of questions are addressed in the article: (1) Is there a widespread lack of confidence in and satisfaction with the Norwegian National Insurance pension scheme? and (2) Is there an association between confidence and satisfaction and people's political attitudes towards the National Insurance pension scheme? Although we do not find any signs of a dramatic erosion of confidence towards the system, we do find that overall satisfaction with projected benefits is low among the working age population. Contrary to what one might expect, however, confidence and satisfaction from the point of view of individual interests appear not to be associated with a political preference for privatisation.
ISSN:1369-6866
1468-2397
DOI:10.1111/j.1369-6866.2004.00305.x