The Conference will focus on the challenges that various socio-economic developments pose to social security worldwide. The current financial and economic crisis is having an enormous impact in terms of its suddenness, scale, and global reach.

The consequences for social security are significant, not only due to the depletion of reserve fund assets and increased expenditure, but also due to its restored legitimacy in a fragile economy.

From a broader perspective, this crisis is connected with other trends in the world today, including an ageing population, globalization, changes in the labour market, population displacement, changes in family structures, global warming, and a crisis of values.  

With a forward-looking perspective, this International Policy and Research Conference will aim to:

• Identify the new demographic context which encompasses, among other things, the challenges of an evolving life-cycle and of increasing migration
• Analyse the consequences of the current financial crisis and related socio-economic changes for the future of  social security
• Assess the impact of major emerging mega-trends on social policies and on forthcoming social security challenges.

The Conference, organized by the International Social Security Association, and at the invitation of the Association of Social Security Bodies of Luxembourg, is expected to bring together more than 300 researchers, policy-makers, administrators and other members of the international social security community, and will provide a unique platform for discussion on how social security can adapt to emerging challenges.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Registration: Social security researchers, policy-makers and administrators interested to attend the Conference are requested to register their interest with the ISSA Secretariat by the 30 October 2009. 

For more information, please contact the Conference Secretariat.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

Preliminary programme of the Conference: [ 2-RC2010-preliminary_programme.pdf 271.50 kB ]

Themes, sub-themes and research questions: [ 2-RC2010-Themes.pdf 517.32 kB ]

Call for papers: Researchers may submit proposals for papers to be presented at the Conference until 30 October 2009.

More details on the abstract submission >>

More details on the attendance grant application >>

Poster sessions: Researchers, research institutions and other associations may display any information or publication related to the themes of the Conference in the form of posters.

More details on the poster submission >>

Information on the previous Conference:  Programme and reports of the 5th International Research Conference on Social Security, Warsaw (Poland), 2007 >>

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Christian Aspalter , Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University (China); Nicholas Barr , London School of Economics and Politics (United Kingdom); Jos Berghman , Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium); Bea Cantillon , University of Antwerpen (Belgium); Mohammed Chaabane , Centre for Research and Studies of Social Security (Tunisia); Agnieska Chlon-Dominciak , Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (Poland); Gösta Esping-Andersen , University of Pompeu Fabra (Spain); Tetsuo Fukawa , National Institute of Population and Social Security Research (Japan); Neil Gilbert , University of California, Berkeley (United States); Evance Kalula , University of Cape Town (South Africa); Olli Kangas , Social Insurance Institution (Finland); María Patricia Kurczyn Villalobos , National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico); Milko Matijascic , Institute of Applied Economic Research (Brazil); Einar Overbye , Oslo University College (Norway); Joakim Palme , Institute for Futures Studies (Sweden); Sara E. Rix , AARP Public Policy Institute (United States); Peter Saunders , University of New South Wales (Australia); Achim Seifert , University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg); Roland Sigg , ISSA General Secretariat.

Abstract submission

The ISSA encourages researchers interested in proposing a paper to submit an abstract which should refer to recent or current research activity, in particular to evaluations of innovative policies or programmes. Contributions should relate to one of the sub-themes of the Conference. Moreover candidates are requested to explain the policy relevance of their contribution in light of the challenges policy-makers are facing in the field of social security. Papers related to comparative research and reports of studies with a direct bearing on the functioning of social security systems are particularly welcome.

Deadline for proposals

The title of the paper, together with a detailed abstract of about 250 words presenting the subject, methodology, hypothesis and research questions, must be submitted via the Conference Website no later than 30 October 2009 .

A Scientific Committee will be responsible for the definition of the Conference’s programme and the selection of papers to be presented at the sessions. The selected papers will be available to the Conference participants in the original language only. All papers relating to the Conference will be accessible at the Conference Website. The Scientific Committee will inform those who have submitted a paper proposal whether or not their paper has been selected in mid-November 2009. The papers selected should then reach the ISSA General Secretariat no later than the end of June 2010 .

Attendance grants

In line with its global perspective, the ISSA seeks to ensure that social security issues and labour market realities in low- and middle-income countries receive a proper level of attention at the Conference. For that purpose, the ISSA aims to promote higher attendance of researchers from these countries. To do so, a limited number of attendance grants will be made available.

Target group

Applications for attendance grants are open to excellently-qualified researchers from low- and middle-income countries who present a research paper at the Conference and who require financial support to be able to attend the event.

To be eligible for a grant, the applicant must be the first author of a paper proposed for presentation at the Conference. Only one grant will be awarded per selected paper.

In selecting the awardees, preference will be given to postdocs, associate professors and other younger researchers.

Value

Attendance grants provide full support for travel and subsistence during the Conference; they cover:

• Travelling expenses, including airfares and train tickets (at the most economic rate)
• Lodging in low-budget accommodation

Application papers

All documents are to be submitted in one of the four languages of the Conference (French, English, German and Spanish).

• Applicants are required to submit an abstract of the paper that they would like to present at the Conference, specifying the title, research question and design
• Further, they are to provide some information on their educational background and relevant work experience as well as a list of recent publications
• Third, applicants have to submit a statement by their employer/ the institution they are affiliated with that confirms that the institution is not able to pay for the cost of Conference attendance

The deadline for receipt of the application papers is 30 October 2009 . Applications received later than this date as well as incomplete applications cannot be considered.

Selection process

The Scientific Committee of the Conference will determine the awardees based on the quality of the abstract submitted and the other information provided. As mentioned above, priority of consideration will be given to younger researchers.

The Scientific Committee will decide on the attendance grants by mid-November 2009 . The applicants will be notified shortly thereafter on whether or not they have been selected for a grant.

The decision of the Scientific Committee is final. Applicants who are not awarded a travel grant will not be given the specific reasons for rejection of their application.

The awardees will subsequently be informed about all the practical arrangements for the attendance grants.

Poster display

The poster display will be held next to the Salle de conférence principale .

Poster presentations provide researchers, research institutions and other associations that want to display any information or publication related to the interests of the conference participants with an opportunity to quickly and easily become acquainted with their material. During the poster session, authors will have the opportunity to share their ideas with the conference participants at specific times.

Schedule for Poster Sessions

The poster will be displayed during the whole conference. Authors are responsible for setting up their poster(s) at the beginning of the conference and removing it at the end of the conference. They are also asked to present their posters during the poster tour sessions (to be specified) to discuss their presentation with participants and answer any questions.

Preparing the posters

Please print and bring your own posters with you as it will not be possible to print posters at the conference venue.

• The ISSA will provide each presenter with a stand on which to display their presentation (details to be provided before the conference).
• You must bring any supplies you may need (tape, felt-tipped markers, tacks, etc.) as we will be unable to provide supplies to the presenters during the conference.
• Equipment using electrical support or other audio-visual equipment may not be used in a poster session.
• Remember that the most successful posters are those that are engaging, attractive, informative and easy to understand.