Author Description

This fourth issue in the current four-volume series of Social Security Programs Throughout theWorld reports on the countries of the Americas. The combined findings of this series, which alsoincludes volumes on Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa, are published at 6-month intervalsover a 2-year period. Each volume highlights features of social security programs inthe particular region.The information contained in these volumes is crucial to our efforts, and those of researchersin other countries, to review different ways of approaching social security challenges that willenable us to adapt our social security systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households,and families. These efforts are particularly important as each nation faces major demographicchanges, especially the increasing number of aged persons, as well as economic and fiscal issues.Social Security Programs Throughout the World is the product of a cooperative effortbetween the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the International Social SecurityAssociation (ISSA). Founded in 1927, the ISSA is a nonprofit organization bringing togetherinstitutions and administrative bodies from countries throughout the world. The ISSA deals withall forms of compulsory social protection that by legislation or national practice are an integralpart of a country's social security system.Previous editions of this report, which date back to 1937, were issued as one volume and wereprepared by SSA staff. With the introduction of the four-volume format in 2002, however, theresearch and writing has been contracted out to the ISSA. The ISSA has conducted the researchlargely through its numerous country-based correspondents, as well as its Social SecurityWorldwide Database and a myriad of other types of data that must be drawn together to updatethis report. Members of the ISSA's Information System and Databases Unit analyzed the informationand revised the publication to reflect detailed changes to each social security