Published_SS_Monitor

Artificial Intelligence and Social Protection: a tool for enhanced efficiency or for exclusion?

Submitted by pmassetti on
socialprotection.org (15.01.2025) Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undergone rapid advancements in recent times in terms of computational power and general usage of algorithms across multiple areas, such as healthcare diagnosis, fraud detection and public service delivery. As we will see in this post, usage of AI, particularly algorithms, is not novel in public policy or in social protection and tends to increase (Benoit 2024). The wider acceptance of AI and general utilization of algorithms in public policy serves as the main point of contention.
Global challenges
Topics
Artificial intelligence
Document Type

What Does a Good Digital Welfare State Look Like?

Submitted by pmassetti on
Institute of Development Studies (17.12.2024) The introduction of ‘digital-by-default’ welfare and social protection systems in the UK and beyond has delivered efficiencies and cost savings for governments and can be convenient for recipients. But, given the rapid pace of change, we need to understand the ethical, social, and political implications of digital welfare from the perspectives of the poorest and most marginalised members of our societies.
Regions / Country
united kingdom
Global challenges
Topics
E-services
Document Type

Prepare now: Europe must get ready for the coming long-term care surge

Submitted by pmassetti on
bruegel.org (23.01.2025) Demographic change and ageing populations in European Union countries will impact many aspects of the economy and have a direct effect on long-term care (LTC) systems. Demand for LTC already exceeds supply in many EU countries, leading to the ‘care gap’. This gap is expected to widen, threatening quality of life for the elderly, exacerbating gender disparities and imposing significant economic costs. The root causes of the gap include demographic shifts, inadequate public investment, workforce shortages and a heavy reliance on informal caregiving.
Regions / Country
Europe
Global challenges
Topics
Long-term care
Document Type

How Jharkhand is setting a precedent for universal social security in India: where there’s a will…

Submitted by pmassetti on
Development Pathways (27.01.2025) Who would’ve guessed that one of the boldest moves in designing social security benefits would come from—not even a country—but a state in India called Jharkhand? For those unfamiliar, Jharkhand is one of India’s poorest states,¹ nestled in the country’s eastern region, often making headlines for its mineral wealth rather than groundbreaking social policy. Yet here we are, talking about Jharkhand as the unlikely pioneer of what can only be described as a “‘Semi-UBI”: a universal basic income, but just for women aged 18 to 50.
Regions / Country
india
Global challenges

Bringing Rwanda’s social protection practices onto the global stage

Submitted by pmassetti on
worldbank.org (Over the past two decades, Rwanda has transformed from a nation rebuilding after tragedy to a global example of economic inclusion. Its impressive 5% average annual per capita GDP growth since 2006 tells part of the story, but economic growth is just one piece of the puzzle. The real story lies in how this growth has touched lives, especially the most vulnerable, through initiatives like Gira Wigire, which means"to have dignity" in Kinyarwanda.
Regions / Country
rwanda
Global challenges
Topics
Extension of coverage
Social policies & programmes

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Document Type

India: Will Budget 2025 extend benefits like social security to gig workers?

Submitted by pmassetti on
business-standard.com (21.01.2025) While the new Code on Social Security 2020 defines ‘gig and platform’ workers and outlines various welfare measures like life and disability insurance, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old-age protection, its non-implementation implies that millions of gig workers remain without any protection.   Labour Lawyer B C Prabhakar says that since the new labour codes are not yet implemented, it is pertinent that the government comes up with a holistic framework for the welfare of this bulging workforce in the upcoming budget.
Regions / Country
india
Topics
Platform workers
Digital plateform workers
Document Type

Three challenges of social protection in sub‐Saharan Africa: informality, climate change and pandemics

Submitted by pmassetti on
International Journal of Social Welfare (2025) This article provides an overview of social protection challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. It explores three main challenges: the integration of informal workers, the management of climate change and pandemics. Despite the proliferation of social protection programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, effective coverage remains low. About 76.3% of the population is not covered by any formal social protection mechanisms. Following the principle of qualitative comparative analysis, this article offers a twofold contribution.
Regions / Country
Africa
Global challenges
Document Type

Financial incentives and flexible retirement: Quasi-experimental evidence from the Finnish pension system

Submitted by pmassetti on
Center for Open Science (2025). In 2017, Finland introduced a partial old-age pension scheme, allowing individuals to claim either 25 or 50 percent of their old-age pension after turning 61, irrespective of their employment status. Claiming a partial pension before the statutory retirement age results in a permanent reduction of the full old-age pension.
Regions / Country
finland
Global challenges
Topics
Pensions
Document Type

Are Belgian pensions really under threat?

Submitted by pmassetti on
vrt.be (13.01.2025) Unions are today taking action in defence of pension rights. The five parties negotiating a new federal government want to save cash on pensions. A major reform is inevitable, says formateur Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist/N-VA). Teachers and NMBS staff fear they will have to work longer ultimately for lower pensions. What are the measures on the table?
Regions / Country
belgium
Global challenges
Topics
Pensions
Document Type

Publication: The Impact of Social Safety Nets on Economic, Social, and Political Outcomes in Fragile, Conflict, and Violent Contexts: A Review of Evidence

Submitted by pmassetti on
worldbank.org (13.01.2025) Social safety nets (SSNs) have emerged as a primary policy instrument in Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV). Safety nets encompass a variety of non-contributory programs, primarily cash and in-kind transfers, accompanying measures, labor-intensive public works (LIPWs), and economic inclusion interventions aimed to provide regular, targeted, and predictable support to the poorest and most vulnerable households.
Global challenges
Topics
Shocks & extreme events
Document Type