Re-thinking social insurance design and financing to achieve universal coverage in a changing world of work

Abstract

This Forum brings together a set of papers examining how social protection systems are adapting to transformations in labour markets driven by technological innovation and the expansion of non-standard forms of work. Despite progress, major coverage gaps persist, particularly among informal and self-employed workers. The contributions in this Forum explore emerging policy responses to these challenges, with a particular focus on financing. McClanahan analyses comparative international experience in extending social security to self-employed workers, identifying affordability as a critical determinant of success. Cetrángolo and Sirisena draw on a global survey of social security contribution subsidies to show that such mechanisms are widely used policy tools to improve access. Castel‑Branco, Cook, Ewinyu and Madonko examine how globalisation, neoliberalism and digitalisation have constrained domestic revenue mobilisation, while assessing the potential of innovative tax instruments to finance social protection. Pellerano and Juergens-Grant analyse how automation, financialization and declining labour shares are eroding the contributory foundations of social insurance and explore for financing models that extend social security obligations beyond employment and towards to capital. Together, these contributions demonstrate that there is significant awareness among policy makers of the need to adapt social security systems to evolving labour markets, and that social security systems already show a remarkable degree of adaptation.