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- Title
„Hohe Renten kann man nicht herbeizaubern": Ein Gespräch über die Mühsal von Rentenreformen und die Gleichstellung von Frauen – und über einen Karriereweg bis hin zur Leitung der Abteilung Sozialpolitik der OECD.
- Authors
Queisser, Monika
- Abstract
In the interview with Dr. Queisser, the difficulties of pension reform in France and gender equality are discussed. The pension reform in France was particularly difficult because the retirement age had already been lowered in the 1980s, and an increase was seen as a social setback. The reform mainly focused on increasing the retirement age and the necessary contribution years. The low labor market participation of older workers and the difficult working conditions in France led to strikes and demonstrations during the reform. It is emphasized that companies and employees themselves must drive changes in the working world to encourage people to work longer. It is also noted that pension problems exist in many countries due to demographic developments and that there are no magical solutions. It is recommended to build up a capital stock in the long term to finance pension claims, but this is difficult at a time when many retirees are retiring. The article discusses various pension systems and gender equality in the labor market. It is mentioned that collective solutions for retirement savings are better than individual ones. Examples of this are Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. It is also noted that the German Riester model is not optimal and primarily benefits financial service providers. Furthermore, the importance of regulating financial markets for pension systems is emphasized. Regarding gender equality, the work of Claudia Goldin is praised, and the OECD's gender initiative is mentioned. It is emphasized that the gender pay gap still exists despite some progress. In the interview with OECD expert Monika Queisser, various reasons for the existing gender inequality in the labor market are discussed. Queisser emphasizes that the unequal distribution of paid and unpaid work between men and women after childbirth leads to disadvantages for women. She advocates for more partnership in the division of family and work responsibilities. Furthermore, it is shown that the gender pay gap exists not only between companies but also within companies. The Scandinavian countries are mentioned as pioneers in the reconciliation of work and family, but there is still room for improvement there as well. It is emphasized that a cultural change and an appreciation of typical male and female professions are necessary to promote gender equality. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's labor market participation and remuneration is also discussed. Queisser emphasizes the importance of qualitative and quantitative data for the work of the OECD. The interviewee, economist Monika Queisser, talks about her time at the World Bank and the OECD. She was admitted to the World Bank in the 1990s as a "Young Professional" despite not having a mathematical education but being knowledgeable about social policy institutions. Queisser criticizes the World Bank's and the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) "Washington Consensus" at the time, which called for structural adjustment measures in heavily indebted countries. She observed how the World Bank promoted pension reforms in Eastern Europe, favoring the Chilean model with privatized individual savings accounts. Queisser left the World Bank after four years due to homesickness, differences with the work, and the difficult balance between work and private life. She switched to the OECD, where she is now the head of a department and focuses on pension policy and health policy. Monika Queisser, Head
- Subjects
FRANCE; GENDER wage gap; QUEISSER, Monika; INDIVIDUAL retirement accounts; PENSION reform; ORGANISATION for Economic Co-operation &; Development; WOMEN employees; MACRON, Emmanuel, 1977-; WORLD Bank; LABOR market; INTERNSHIP programs
- Publication
Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, 2023, Vol 24, Issue 4, p414
- ISSN
1465-6493
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1515/pwp-2023-0047