Cover -- Contents -- Tables, Figures, and Boxes -- Abbreviations -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Contributors -- Overview: The Challenge of Rapid Aging: Development of Social Pensions in Asia -- Introduction -- Economic Growth and Social Protection -- Potential Benefits of Social Pensions -- Structure of the Book -- Chapter 1 The Political Economy of Social Pension Reform in Asia -- Abstract -- Introduction: The Case for Social Pensions and Their Relevance for Asia -- The Regional Context: Aging, Poverty, and Social Protection in Asia -- An Analytical Framework: Understanding Policy Reform -- Explaining the Origins and Evolution of Welfare Regimes -- Explaining Policy Reform -- Toward a Political Economy of Social Pension Reform -- Experiences from Other Regions: The Political Economy of Social Pensions in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa -- Latin America: Origins and Reforms -- Sub-Saharan Africa: Origins and Reforms -- Factors Facilitating or Constraining the Introduction of Social Pensions in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa -- Social Pensions and the Politics of Welfare Policy in Asia -- Problem Analysis and Reform Strategy: When Are Social Pensions Prioritized? -- Social Pension Reform: Relevant Actors -- Variety of Approaches and Outcomes -- Conclusions -- References -- Annex -- Chapter 2 Social Pensions for the Elderly in Asia: Fiscal Costs and Financing Methods -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Selected Asian Countries' Financing Experience -- Determinants of Fiscal Costs -- Rights-Based versus Discretionary Approaches -- Targeted (Selective) or Universal (Categorical) Social Pensions -- Design and Fiscal Costs -- Projections of Fiscal Costs -- Enhancing Fiscal Space -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 3 The Design and Implementation of Social Pensions for Older Persons in Asia -- Abstract -- Introduction.

Overview and Impact of Social Pensions in Asia -- Poverty Reduction -- Food Security and Nutrition -- Access to Health Care -- Human Capital Development -- Livelihoods and Labor Market Engagement -- Extended Economic Impact -- Social Impacts -- Design Issues with Social Pensions in Asia -- Targeting versus Universalism -- Benefit Size -- Implementation of Social Pensions in Asia -- Administrative Systems -- Beneficiary Selection -- Targeting Errors of Exclusion and Inclusion -- Challenges with Targeting and Registration Systems -- Payments Systems -- Corruption -- Rights Protection -- Capacity and Administrative Feasibility -- The Importance of Management Information Systems -- The Importance of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems -- Progressive Realization with Limited Capacity -- Development Partner Support for Capacity Building and Scaling Up -- Conclusions, Policy Lessons, and a Road Map Forward -- Identification of an Appropriate Social Protection Instrument -- Design -- Implementation -- Monitoring and Evaluation -- References -- Chapter 4 Gender and Old-Age Pension Protection in Asia -- Abstract -- Background and Objectives -- Gender-Specific Vulnerabilities and Old-Age Social Protection -- Higher Life Expectancy of Women -- Rapid Aging -- Domestic and Informal Care -- Intergenerational Living Arrangements -- Old-Age Social Protection and Women in the Labor Market -- Women in the Formal Labor Market -- Women in the Informal Labor Market -- The Role of Social Pensions in Providing Old-Age Protection for Women -- References -- Chapter 5 Providing Social Security in Old Age: The International Labour Organization View -- Abstract -- The Objectives and Standards of Pension Systems -- Access to Old-Age Pensions -- Universal Pension as Part of the Social Protection Floor -- Policy Options for Pension Protection -- The Cost of Basic Social Protection.

References -- Chapter 6 Development of the Old-Age Allowance System in Thailand: Challenges and Policy Implications -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Old-Age Pension System -- Public Officials' Pension Scheme -- Old-Age Benefits under the Social Security Fund -- Introducing Universal Social Pensions -- Coverage and Financing -- Economic, Social, and Institutional Impacts of the Social Pension -- Income Poverty Reduction -- Social Impact -- Institutional Impacts -- Implications for Policy and Practice -- Thailand -- Other Asian Countries -- References -- Chapter 7 Social Pensions in Viet Nam: Status and Recommendations for Policy Responses -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Aging, Income Insecurity, and Old-Age Pension -- Main Features of the Social Pension Scheme -- Impacts of the Social Pension Scheme -- Income Poverty Reduction -- Participation in the Labor Force -- Access to Health Care -- Supporting Other Household Members -- Current Issues in Design and Implementation -- Identifying Beneficiaries -- Benefit Delivery -- Administrative Capacity for Outreach, Implementation, and Monitoring -- Scaling Up Social Pensions: Potential Poverty Impacts and Fiscal Costs -- Implications for Policy and Practice -- Promoting and Strengthening the Role of Social Pension in Reducing Old-Age Poverty -- Implications for Other Developing Countries -- References -- Chapter 8 Overview of the Old Age Allowance Programme in Bangladesh -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Safety Net Programs in Bangladesh -- Main Features of the Old Age Allowance Program -- Program Administration -- Beneficiary Selection -- Selection Criteria -- Allowance Delivery -- Grievance Procedures -- Coverage -- Impacts of the Program -- Food -- Health Care -- Psychosocial Well-Being -- Economic Security -- Social Impact -- Design and Implementation Issues -- Benefit Size -- Candidate Selection.

Benefit Delivery -- Administrative Challenges -- Potential for Scaling Up -- Implications for Policy and Practice -- Strengthening and Scaling Up the Old Age Allowance Programme -- Lessons for Other Asian Countries -- References -- Chapter 9 Nepal's Senior Citizens' Allowance: A Model of Universalism in a Low-Income Country Context -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Background -- Rationale -- Features -- Benefits -- Coverage -- Impacts on Individual and Household Well-Being -- Income Poverty Reduction -- Increasing Access to Basic Services and Health Care -- Supporting Other Household Members -- Issues Related to "Stigma" -- Opportunities and Challenges in Design and Implementation -- Institutional Arrangements -- Targeting Effectiveness, and Errors of Inclusion and Exclusion -- Accountability and the Extent of Capture and Corruption -- Administrative Capacity for Outreach, Implementation, and Monitoring -- Financing, Fiscal Cost, and Affordability -- Implications for Policy and Practice -- Strengthening and Scaling Up the Social Pension Scheme in Nepal -- Drawing Lessons for Other Asian Countries -- References -- Chapter 10 Social Protection for Older People in Central Asia and the South Caucasus -- Abstract -- Introduction -- The Inheritance: Soviet Old-Age Pensions in Brief -- Demographic and Socioeconomic Trends -- Demographic Trends -- Socioeconomic Trends -- Trends in Pension Provision, 1990s to 2000s -- Case Studies -- Kazakhstan -- The Kyrgyz Republic -- Armenia -- Tajikistan: Public versus Private Transfers -- Policy Implications and Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 11 Social Transfers for Older Persons: Implications for Policy, Practice, and Research -- Introduction -- Establishing Social Entitlements for Older Persons -- Reducing Poverty and Vulnerability -- Supporting Other Household Members -- Tackling Social Exclusion.

Poverty-Targeted or Universal Provision? -- Identifying and Including the Poor -- Accountability in Beneficiary Selection -- Achieving Effective and Accountable Targeting -- Benefit Delivery -- Expanding Social Pensions -- Adopting an Incremental Approach -- Origin and Trajectories of Social Pensions -- Conclusions -- References -- Tables -- 1.1 Analyzing Social Policy Reform Processes -- 2.1 Selected Characteristics of Social Pension Schemes in Asia, Selected Countries -- 2.2 Demographic Trends in Asia, Selected Countries -- 2.3 Selected Fiscal Indicators and Projections for Social Pensions Programs in Asia, Selected Countries -- 4.1 Healthy Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy by Gender, 2007 -- 4.2 Old-Age Dependency Ratio, 2000-2050 -- 4.3 Shares of Wage or Salaried Employees in Employed and Working-Age Populations, 2008 -- 4.4 Gender Pay Gaps, Selected Asian Economies -- 4.5 Status in Employment by Gender, Selected Asian Countries -- 4.6 Effective Extent of Coverage and Active Contributors, Selected Asian Countries -- 5.1 Projected Elderly Population in 2010 and 2050 -- 6.1 Members of the Government Pension Fund, November 2010 -- 6.2 Insured Population and Old-Age Benefits Beneficiaries of the Social Security Fund, 2001-2010 -- 6.3 Old-Age Allowance Beneficiaries by Region, FY2008-2011 -- 6.4 Old-Age Allowance and Government Budget, FY2008-2011 -- 6.5 Projected Fiscal Burden to 2010 -- 6.6 Income Poverty Reduction of Social Pension in 2009 -- 7.1 Feminization of the Old-Age Population in Viet Nam, 2009-2049 -- 7.2 Coverage and Costs of Social Pensions in Viet Nam, 2008 -- 7.3 Alternative Programs Costing About 1% of Gross Domestic Product in 2004 -- 7.4 Projected Impacts on Inequality of a Universal Social Pension Scheme -- 8.1 Safety Net Programs and Their Budget Allocation 2008/09.

8.2 Different Cash Transfer Programs of Bangladesh, Including the Agencies Administering Them and Budget Allocation for 2009/10.