About the Book:At present, many governments are privatizing social security programs, largely on the ground that these programs are expensive and harmful to economic development. This book provides the first systematic analysis of the relationship between social security and economic development, addressing the conflicting claims that social security can both harm and improve development. Using many international case studies, the book sheds light on the debate, with each country study focusing on a particular aspect of the issue and expressing a positivity towards the contribution social security can make towards economic development.