All European countries are currently facing major social challenges. Population ageing, persistent unemployment and rising expenditure on social protection are causing anxiety about the sustainability of social security schemes.To remedy this, new trends, by emphasising the role of the private sector and individual responsibility in responding to social risks, are radically altering the role of the state and directly affect the benefits paid to recipients.This thirteenth volume in the series "Trends in Social Cohesion" pursues the Council of Europe's discussion on developments in social security, focusing on the consequences of the recent reforms of old-age pension schemes in Europe and taking in particular a closer look at the repercussions of private funding of old-age pensions on social cohesion and equality between women and men.
