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Journals / Sosyal Güvence / 2026 / Sayı: 30

The Gender Pension Gap: The Cases Of Estonia, Sweden, Germany

Emeklilikte Toplumsal Cinsiyet Açığı: Estonya, İsveç, Almanya Örnekleri

Nursel Durmaz Bodur(PAMUKKALE ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-7713-7214
Pages
2238–2272
Publication Date
2026-07-04
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that the determinants of the gender pension gap are the structure of pension systems and gender equality in the labor market.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to examine the gender pension gap within a conceptual and comparative framework.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The research revealed that there are varying rates of gender pension gap among EU countries.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that the determinants of the gender pension gap are the structure of pension systems and gender equality in the labor market.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığı · refah rejimleri · toplumsal cinsiyet

Abstract

This study aims to examine the gender pension gap within a conceptual and comparative framework. The gender pension gap, calculated by comparing the average monthly retirement benefits of women and men, highlights gender inequality during the retirement period. Differences in lifetime earnings due to women's lower wages and interrupted careers create new inequalities in retirement. Furthermore, private pension plans promoted by the global dominance of neoliberal policies do not provide the benefits offered by public social security, which is relatively more equitable. This study attempts to reveal the dimensions and causes of the gender pension gap in European Union countries through a comparative analysis. In this context, a conceptual research was conducted using a systematic literature review approach, and comparisons were made between countries using secondary data. The research revealed that there are varying rates of gender pension gap among EU countries. The findings indicate that the determinants of the gender pension gap are the structure of pension systems and gender equality in the labor market. The study found that defined-contribution models have a greater potential for gender pension gap compared to defined-benefit models, and that these gaps will become more apparent as a result of pension reforms. This study examined the gender pension gap in Estonia, Sweden, and Germany—countries representing different welfare regimes—and found that the welfare regime adopted by each country has a significant impact on the gender pension gap. The gender pension gap varies depending on how welfare regimes position women; in this context, it was observed that the gender gap in retirement is lower in social democratic and post-communist welfare regimes compared to corporatist-conservative welfare regimes. Furthermore, it has been found that policies such as guaranteed pensions and care credits may be effective in reducing the gender pension gap.

Özet

Bu çalışma, emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığını kavramsal ve karşılaştırmalı bir çerçevede incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Kadın ve erkeklerin ortalama emeklilik aylıklarının karşılaştırılmasıyla hesaplanan emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığı, emeklilik dönemindeki cinsiyet eşitsizliğini gözler önüne serer. Kadınların erkeklere göre daha düşük ücretler karşılığında istihdam edilmeleri ve/veya kesintili kariyere sahip olmaları nedeniyle yaşam boyu kazançlarındaki farklılıklar emeklilik döneminde yeni eşitsizlikler üretmektedir. Bunun yanında tüm dünyada neoliberal politikaların hâkim kılınmasıyla özendirilen özel emeklilik planları, görece daha eşitlikçi olan kamusal sosyal güvenliğin sunduğu faydaları sunmamaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Avrupa Birliği ülkelerinde emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığının boyutları, nedenleri ile birlikte, ülkeler arası karşılaştırma yapılarak ortaya çıkartılmaya çalışılmıştır. Bu bağlamda, kavramsal bir araştırma yürütülmüş olup sistematik literatür taraması yaklaşımı benimsenmiş ve ikincil verilerden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda AB ülkeleri arasında farklı oranlarda emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığının olduğu görülmüştür. Bulgular, emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığının belirleyicilerinin emeklilik sistemlerinin yapısı ve işgücü piyasasının toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğine duyarlılığı olduğunu göstermiştir. Tanımlanmış katkı esaslı modellerin tanımlanmış fayda esaslı modellere göre daha fazla emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığı potansiyeli taşıdığı ve emeklilik reformlarının etkisiyle görünür kılınacağı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Çalışmada, farklı refah rejimlerini temsil eden Estonya, İsveç ve Almanya’da emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığı incelenmiş ve ülkelerin benimsediği refah rejiminin emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığı üzerinde belirgin bir etkisinin olduğu görülmüştür. Refah rejimlerinin kadını konumlandırma biçimine göre emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığının değiştiği; bu bağlamda sosyal demokrat refah rejimlerinde ve post-komünist refah rejimlerinde emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığının korporatist-muhafazakâr refah rejimlerine göre daha düşük düzeyde olduğu görülmüştür. Bunun yanı sıra garanti emeklilik ve bakım kredisi gibi uygulamaların emeklilikte toplumsal cinsiyet açığını azaltmada etkili olabileceği ortaya çıkmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Bodur, N. D. (2026). The Gender Pension Gap: The Cases Of Estonia, Sweden, Germany. Sosyal Güvence, Sayı: 30, 2238–2272. https://doi.org/10.21441/sosyalguvence.1933615

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