Universal social security is Feasible in Low-Income Countries: A Critical Review of the ILO’s Calculations on the Cost of Bridging the Gap

Writers: Stephen Kidd, Diloá Athias, Olivia Claxton

This new Pathways’ Perspectives piece examines the ILO’s claim that universal social security would cost low-income countries 19.8 per cent of GDP, revealing this figure is significantly inflated due to methodological challenges.

Using more realistic transfer values, this study demonstrates that universal social security could cost less than 4 per cent of GDP in low-income countries if implemented immediately and much less if undertaken gradually.

To read the full article: click here