130
2.
Assessment of the results obtained
by existing social security measures
to
Once the ba sic functions of social security are determined and the general objectives defined in terms of the established needs, it seems logical to ask what extent these functions are fulfilled and ascertained needs met by existing social security provisions. In other words, having replied to the question "where do we go in social security?", the planner has to know how much has been done so far to reach the desired objectives.
The
An assessment of the results obtained by the working of the present social security scheme is by no means an easy task since they are not necessarily reflected in the current statistics pertaining to the routine work of the institution. statistics which are a regular by-product of the institution's administration will relate to the three main dimensions of a social security scheme, namely (a) the persons insured; (b) the contingencies covered; and (c) the nature, the level and the volume of benefits. In addition to these statistics, information will te provided on the financial and administrative operations of the institution and their economic implications.1
d
It 1s
obvious that information concerning the number of insured persons, the number of contingencies covered during a given period or the volume of benefits paid to claimants forms an important part of the data required in order to assess the Working of
social security scheme; however, they tell us very little about the social effectiveness of the system. Until recently, little or nɔ effort has been made to try to evaluate how social security schemes fulfil their social objectives by examining, for instance, how many people from among those who suffered social accidents ot alfrerent kinds have recuperated without any lasting damage to their normal social functioning and how many have only Deen helped to survive without recovering their tormer standard of living.2 New techniques will have to be developed, not only by way of cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness analysis, in crder to measure the achievements of social security systems in fulfilling their social objectives. The success of this effort will no doubt depend to a great extent cn the development of appropriate series of social security indicators on which research is currently under way.
Needless to say, the evaluation of the "social" performance of a scheme will have tc De accompanied by data concerning the impact of social security on other factors or aspects of societal development, particularly the demographic and economic aspects which are frequently analysed in current studies. In this way, it will be possible to appreciate the total impact of the institution's work СП society, while giving proper weight to each of its components.
Finally, the evaluation of the scheme's achievements will have to be completed projections estimating the results to be obtained during the perica of the plan, on the assumption that no changes are made in the existing legislation.
by
3.
Preparation of a plan for the development
of the social security sector
In this third stage of social security planning the question to be asked is what should be done in the social security field over the period of the plan and how it should be done or, in other words, what progress is to be made towards reaching the general objectives defined in the first stage and by what means? Needless to say, the choice of means to be used will depend entirely on the specific social security objectives of the plan.
is recognised that the essential
As we have pointed out previously, if it functions of social security are determined by social and not economic aspects of
31
"Social Security Planning and National Planning in the in International Social Security Review, No.
1972. particularly the section on "Examination of the Present Situation", pp. 231-233.
I cf. G. Arroba: Developing Countries",
2 A study which has recently been carried out in Denmark in connection with the reform of the social security system revealed that 60 per cent of persons hit by a social accident had not regained an independent and stable position within 18 montas. See B.R. Anderson: "A Danish Study of the Functioning of the System of Social Security", in Journal of Social Policy, October 1972.
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