The sustainability of the social security system: a comparison between Italy and Spain

Abstract

The Spanish and Italian social security systems share a number of characteristics which, in some cases, constitute challenges that need to be addressed in order to preserve the sustainability of pensions. However, in order to ensure this principle, the current respective governments have recently developed different measures, which undoubtedly lead to results that do not always favour this essential sustainability, as in the case of Italy. Likewise, the doctrine established by the Constitutional Courts of both countries has also taken different approaches, in the Italian case favouring the existence of the necessary economic means to guarantee the maintenance of pensions, of a sufficient amount to allow citizens to live an adequate life, while the Spanish high court tends to limit this right.