Gender and Pension Individualisation: The Case of Greece

Within European pension reform, a policy trend with significant implications for women's pension income concerns a gradual emphasis on individual pension rights based on labour market participation and the recognition of periods of care, with a decreased importance of derived pension rights (acquired through a relationship to another person with pension rights, e.g. a spouse). The paper draws on Greek pension reforms between 1982-2008 to illustrate a gradual shift towards greater pension individualisation for women, discusses the implications of pension individualisation for women in Southern Europe and beyond, and argues for the need for coordination with employment policies and the recognition of care so that those with weak links to the labour market are not adversely affected.