The economic base of social insurance

Pacud, Radosław

The economic base of social insurance

Abstract

This article takes up the question of establishing what the basis of the model of distribution through social insurance is. Referring to the concepts of the base and superstructure and their meaning in Marxian economics, it was accepted that these are suitable for resolving the question posed. The theoretical research method applied was the result of the search for such concepts and tools which would facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to identification of diverse factors which comprehensively determine the economic efficiency and viability of social insurance. The labour and capital in the economy are included among the economic base factors of social insurance, as well as the primary monetary and material resources which are mobilized by insurance institutions in a first stage of its development. Labour has direct impact on base of social insurance, while the capital plays indirect role. It is finally proposed to discuss in the social insurance superstructure with few kinds of factors: finance (monetary resources and social insurance financial assets and monetary resources from state subsidies), politics (activity of the state and the law it applies, as well as customary) and eventually law and social norms (religious or cultural norms which require compliance with the law determining obligatory contributions). The base and superstructure of social insurance remain mutually dependent, providing a wide basis for understanding the economic system of social insurance.