By comparing Germany, France, the UK and the USA this study explores how governments have tackled the increased pressure of financing state pensions. Specifically, it looks at the approach of each of these countries to raising the age of entitlement in order to understand the ways in which this policy was introduced in different countries.

Catherine Blair has held a variety of roles in pension and employment policy in the British civil service, and has also worked for a number of years at the European Commission. She was educated at the University of Oxford and the College of Europe in Bruges before completing her Doctorate at the University of Bremen.