Summary (English)

This article focuss on three lessons that can be drawn from responses to the global crisis:

• People covered by different social security arrangements with respect to financing, design and coverage are exposed to economic shocks in different degrees.
• With adequate financing, design and coverage, social security acts as an economic and social stabilizer during a crisis.
• While the crisis has opened a window of opportunity for the extension of social security, particularly in low-income countries, more political will is needed both nationally and internationally to create the necessary fiscal space.

Note

This article has been published as a chapter of the ILO document  The global crisis. Causes, responses and challenges (ILO, 2011), pp. 167-180.