Has Public Insurance Gone Too Far?

41 Pages Posted: 1 May 2013

Date Written: April 30, 2013

Abstract

This study argues that insurance is a much more pervasive motive of government activity than is commonly thought; one associated with great benefits but also great risks. From the start of public social insurance in the late 19th century, social insurance has come a long way to “all-inclusive” modern welfare states that absorb, on average, 25% of GDP in industrialised countries. Moreover, governments today are expected to “insure” aggregate demand via public spending and jobs, and economic sectors – most notably the financial industry – via subsidies and bailouts. Public insurance has also spread across borders via international support programmes. All this has not only boosted government debt to historic peace-time highs, but also led to significant potential future government liabilities via social security systems and possible further national and international financial support programmes. While the distributional implications are ambivalent, the compound effects have put the sustainability of public finances and macroeconomic stability at risk in many countries. Correcting over-commitments requires ambitious and timely policy action.

Suggested Citation

Schuknecht, Ludger, Has Public Insurance Gone Too Far? (April 30, 2013). CESifo Working Paper Series No. 4217, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2258417 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2258417

Ludger Schuknecht (Contact Author)

European Central Bank (ECB) ( email )

Sonnemannstrasse 22
Frankfurt am Main, 60314
Germany
+49 69 1344 6494 (Phone)
+49 69 1344 7809 (Fax)

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