Banking on death : or, investing in life : the history and future of pensions / Robin Blackburn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blackburn, Robin.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pension trusts.

Pensions--History.

Pensions.

History.

Physical Description:

x, 550 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Verso, 2002.

Summary:

The onset of globalisation and the ageing of populations have encouraged efforts to privatize the funding of retirement, putting at risk public pensions in many countries and giving pension and insurance funds great financial power. Private funds enjoy vital public subsidy, in the shape of major tax breaks, yet typically fail to give their policyholders a say, or subscribe to wider social objectives.

Banking on Death traces the history of pension provision across the advanced capitalist world. It concludes that tax concessions should be confined to those funds which adhere to socially committed and sustainable investment programmes, preferably on a not-for-profit basis. Blackburn offers a lucid survey of the debates on the future of social security in the United States and the struggles over pension provision in Britain, France and Germany. At once radical and realistic his analysis shows how grey capitalism could be transformed in pursuit of progressive goals.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1859847951

OCLC:

49594447