Germany?s social security system is surveyed, its benefits and contributions are discussed. The expansion of this system in the last decades is described, its impact on employment and growth is studied and proposals for the reform of the system are discussed.

This paper is part of the project European Integration, Financial Systems and Corporate Performance (EIFC) carried out within the European Commission s specific programme Improving the Human Research Potential and the Socio-Economic Knowledge Base . Financial support from the European Union, DG...