Pension systems are important parts of the welfare state in European countries. Their main purpose is improving socioeconomic position of retirees by paying out pensions. The performance of the system depends on various factors, related to financial, economic and demographic situation in the country. Because of that, pension systems are frequently adapted with reforms, that, according to their many critics, worsen the socioeconomic position of retirees. This thesis consists of theoretical and empirical parts. Theoretical part discusses various concepts of welfare state in general and pension systems in particular, with the emphasis on the Slovenian pension system. Empirical part is further divided in two parts: the analysis of the relevant databases and eight structured interviews with the representatives of stakeholers in Slovenian pension system. The purpose of this masters’ thesis is to find out, whether and/or in what way pension system reforms contribute to changing of the socioeconomic position of the retirees in Slovenia and presentation of the concept of the welfare state with emphasis on the Slovenian pension system and its reforms.
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