European Pensions & Global Finance [Paperback]

This book is about the demographic and funding crises that threaten continental European systems of pension and retirement income. The author argues that state-sponsored social security will not deliver promised retirement incomes for the baby-boom generation; European monetary union and the imperatives of global finance has made such promises untenable thereby undercutting nation-state social solidarity. Globalization has set many challenges for European countries not least of which is providing pension security for theory citizens. At the same time, global finance has opened-up options for corporations and individuals seeking alternatives to the past; but exercising those opportunities will come at a high cost for European notions of social justice.

List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction: The Nation-State in the Twenty-First Century
2. Overview: Demography and Pension Funding
3. Requiem for a French Ideal
4. Global Finance and German Accounting Rules
5. Stakeholders, Shareholders, and German Co-determination
6. Dutch Fund Governance and Financial Services
7. London's Place in the World of Finance
8. Epilogue: Pension Futures
Appendix
Bibliography
Citation index
Index

European Pensions and Global Financeis a thought-provoking and lucid book. Drawing on research from a diverse range of fields ranging from sociology to geography to financial economics, Gordon Clark has succeeded in producing perhaps the best overall exposition of the key issues of governance and globalisation and their role in the evolution of pensions in Europe. This is a book which can and should be read by anyone who wishes to further their understanding of European pensions. --Mike Orszag, Head of Research, Watson Whatt; Chairman, Research Committee, International Network of PensionRegulators and Supervisors

Gordon L. ClarklCÔ