2009 has not been marked by important legislative changes in the French pension system. The
main measure legislated in the largest statutory scheme – the régime general – has been a
reform of the pension bonuses offered to compensate women for maternity. However, the
political debate around pension reform has continued to be very lively and a negotiation about
a reform of statutory pension schemes is set to take place as from April 2010 and could lead
to legislative changes in autumn 2010 (...)

Morel, Nathalie

Naczyk, Marek

Palier, Bruno

Overall, the structure of the French pension system has not changed radically in 2008. Themain measure legislated in the largest statutory scheme – the régime general – has been thegradual increase in the duration of insurance from 40 years in 2008 to 41 years in 2012. At theend of March 2009, the social partners have also decided to maintain the rules that currentlygovern indexation mechanisms in Agirc and Arrco, two supplementary schemes thatconstitute a large part of pensioners’ incomes. A number of measures aiming at promotinglonger working lives have also been implemented, but they remain insufficient if France is toreach the Lisbon employment rate targets. Social science research has shown that legislativechanges curbing opportunities for early retirement have had a negligent effect on theemployment of the elderly. The labour market participation of the elderly has been at thecenter of recent political debates on the evolution of the French pension system. The idea ofincreasing the statutory retirement age has been gaining momentum in recent months. Otherimportant changes that are being considered by pension experts but also by political elites area reform of “family advantages”, i.e. pension bonuses offered to pensioners who have hadchildren or to widow(er)s, as well as the replacement of all existing pay-as-you-go schemesby a single notional defined-contribution (NDC) system. While an NDC system wouldcertainly improve the transparency of the French pension system, it is doubtful whether such asystem will be capable of ensuring adequate pensions for the increasing number of workersemployed in non-standard work arrangements.France is used to alternate pension and health care reforms. Important years for pensionreforms have been 2003 and 2007/2008, when 2004 has been a very important year for healthcare reforms. In 2008, no important reforms have been implemented in health care (due to thepreparation of the presidential elections in spring 2007 and the important pension reforms infall 2007 and in spring 2008 – RDV 2008 – presented in the pension section). In late 2007 andin 2008, various measures have mainly been aimed at finding new resources for avoiding thehealth insurance deficit to grow too importantly. However, a new important structural reformhas being prepared and discussed. However, the discussion of this new reform "Hôpital,patients, santé, territoire" has constantly been postponed and has been presented to theParliament only in Spring 2009, and is still not adopted in May 2009. This project has beensubjected to many criticisms, especially from the medical profession, who went several timeson strike and demonstration to oppose some main elements of this reform. Little by little,most of its planned content has been soften to respond positively to the doctors' anger. It isplanned that this new law will further push decentralisation within the French Health caresystem, by the creation of new Regional Health Agencies, in charge of the health policy at theregional level

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ASISP Annual National Report 2009: Pensions,Health and Long-Term Care

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ASISP Annual National Report 2009: Pensions,Health and Long-Term Care. France

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ASISP Annual National Report 2009: Pensions,Health and Long-Term Care. France

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SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository

Archive Ouverte en Sciences de l'Information et de la Communication