Selbständige und ihre Altersvorsorge: Sozialpolitischer Handlungsbedarf?

One of the characteristics of the structural development in the Federal Republic of Germany is the increase of self-employment. In contrary to the regulations for dependent employees, a large part of self-employed persons are not included in the social security system. Social security insurances for self-employed only exist as exceptions. Therefore, the increase of selfemployment without social security may cause problems within the social security system. Our analysis shows that at present the data base is insufficient for statements about old-age security of self-employed. Nevertheless, it becomes clear that most of the self-employed are not included within the obligatory system of old-age security and that the existing structures are heterogeneous.