Polish pension system: 1989–2012
Polish pension system: 1989–2012

Author(s): Joanna Ratajczak
Subject(s): Politics, Economy, Sociology, Welfare systems, Family and social welfare, Welfare services, Public Finances, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Poznaniu
Keywords: pension system in Poland;reform of pension system;reform of pension system 1999;obligatory pension system;
Summary/Abstract: The reform of the pension system took place during the second wave of reforms in Poland after the thorough transformation of the political and economic system. Poland belongs to the Central and Eastern European group of countries, which (following Hungary) introduced the paradigmatic pension reform which is funded by an obligatory system. Over 20 years after the political transformation and 12 years after the paradigmatic reform of the 1999, a question arose about the main problems and challenges as well as political answers reflected in the (re)designing of the pension system in Poland. This is the main purpose of this article. The text is structured as follows: first, the ten year path towards the paradigmatic 1999 reform will be outlined. This is the starting point for a brief description of key parameters of the old and the new pension system. Since reasons for the pension reform of 1999 and the new Polish pension scheme have been analyzed by many authors, the focus will be on the current regulations and especially changes after the 1999 reform, which are the subject of description in section three. Finally, the main directions of evolution of the pension system in Poland after the paradigmatic reform will be identified.

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