Comparison of selected types of welfare state on the example of old-age pensions in 1960 and 1985

This masters´ thesis provides a historical perspective on the old-age pension system in 3 European countries. Each of the states represents a type of welfare state. These are Czechoslovakia and the Leninist type, Denmark with the social democratic type and Austria which represents the continental type of welfare state. First, 3 concepts are discussed: social policy, social security and welfare state. Subsequently, the general pillar structure of the old-age insurance system is described and how it is defined, including retirement limits. The main research section is devoted to individual countries. First, the evolution of their welfare state since the late 19th century is described. Then the available data for 1960 and 1985 are analyzed, concluding with a comparison between these years, both in terms of figures and criteria for legal entitlement to the benefit. The conclusion of the data is unambiguous: in all the countries studied, the old-age security system has expanded substantially. In Denmark and Austria, there are also significant increases in total expenditure on state public social services. This is partly reflected in legislation, but there is more continuity in this area, especially in the retirement age. The assumption that a market economy and a free society can build a broader state of public social services than a planned economy with a one-party monopoly on power has also been confirmed.