Conclusion

Abstract

The three levels of analysis are considered: public debate, struggles between political actors, and temporal preferences. Negative public debate was generally counteracted and political consensus was achieved or the impact of mass movements was reduced. The impact of existing retrenchment measures on pension policy is underlined — further measures are no longer surprising. It is also argued that the case studies showed how packaging, compromises, coalitions and cross-party consultations were all relevant. Temporal preferences are explained in terms of a recognised objective need to reform, a desire to reduce the cost for the main part of the electorate, and a certain degree of credit-seeking. The text ends on a discussion about taking politics out of the pensionable age through automatic links to evolving life expectancy.