□ 세계 인구의 절반 이상은 여전히 적절한 사회적 보호 없이 살아가고 있으며, 이로 인한 불평등 심화와 위기 대응력 부족이 전 지구적 도전 과제로 대두됨.
ㅇ 보고서는 보다 포괄적이고 지속가능한 사회보호 시스템 구축을 위한 국제적 논의와 정책 설계에 도움을 주고자 하며, 이를 위해 ① 수요자 중심 보장 범위 확대, ② 급여 적정성 제고 및 강화, ③ 위기 대응 체계 구축, ④ 재정 확보 및 최적화된 배분 을 핵심 정책 방향으로 제안함.
① 수요자 중심 보장 범위 확대
- 보고서는 사회적 보호 제도의 보장 범위가 전 세계적으로는 증가했으나, 여전히 20억 인구가 미보장 또는 미흡한 수준의 보호를 받고 있음을 지적함.
- 저소득 국가(LIC)에서는 극빈층조차 보호받지 못하는 비율이 높으며, 비공식 부문 노동자, 여성, 아동 등 소외계층에 대한 접근성이 특히 낮음.
- 수요자 중심 접근(people-centric design), 디지털 사회 등록부 정비, 지역 간 형평성 강화를 통해 보장 범위를 실질적으로 확대할 것을 권고함.
② 급여 적정성 제고 및 강화
- 현행 사회보호 급여는 수혜자의 평균 소비 또는 소득의 25% 수준에 불과하며, 저소득 국가에서는 그 비율이 11%로 더욱 낮음. 특히 여성은 남성보다 평균적으로 적은 급여를 수령하며, 청년·장애인 등에 대한 급여 형평성도 부족함.
- 급여의 실질적 효과를 높이기 위해 물가 연동, 최소급여 보장, 정기성 확보 등 제도적 보완이 필요하다고 제시함.
③ 위기 대응 체계 구축
- 기후 변화, 팬데믹, 식량 위기 등 복합 재난과 외부 충격에 효과적으로 대응할 수 있는 사회보호 시스템 구축이 요구됨.
- 조기경보시스템, 디지털 사례관리 시스템, 예비 자금메커니즘 같은 인프라가 필요하며, 기존 시스템을 민첩하게 조정할 수 있는 유연성 확보도 중요함.
- 보고서는 특히 동적 사회등록부(dynamic registries)와 충격 대응형 현금이전(shock-responsive transfers)의 중요성을 강조함.
④ 재정 확보 및 최적화된 배분
- 사회보호를 확대하기 위해서 지속가능한 재정 기반 마련이 선결 과제로, 보고서는 국내 세수 증대, 외부 재원 동원, 비효율적 보조금 철폐 등을 주요 전략으로 제시함.
- 재정 지출의 형평성과 효율성을 높이기 위해 타겟형 현금이전, 성과 기반 재정관리, 사회보험 확대가 병행되어야 한다고 제안함. 특히 저소득 국가에서는 GDP 대비 사회보호 지출이 고소득 국가의 5분의 1 수준에 불과하다는 점을 지적하며 국제협력을 강조함.
목차
Title page 1
Contents 7
Acknowledgments 10
About the Authors 14
Executive Summary 16
Abbreviations 22
Introduction 23
Strengthening and Expanding Social Protection: Substantial Progress, but a Long Way to Go 26
Four Policy Action Areas for More and Better Social Protection 29
Speeding Up the Spread of Stronger and Better Social Protection 33
About the Report and Data 34
Notes 36
References 37
CHAPTER 1. The 2-Billion-Person Challenge 42
Notes 48
References 48
CHAPTER 2. Assessing Country Performance 49
Coverage: Noticeable Growth, but at Far Too Slow a Pace 50
Adequacy: Low Benefit Levels with Limited Impact on Poverty 63
Financing: Low Spending Compared to Needs 68
Strengthening Systems for Shocks and Crises: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic 72
Notes 78
References 79
CHAPTER 3. Navigating Global Headwinds: Spending More and Better to Strengthen and Expand Social Protection 84
Context Matters: A Simple Taxonomy of Potential Reforms 87
Focusing Noncontributory Transfers on People Who Need Them Most 89
Harnessing the Unexploited Potential of Subsidy Reforms 92
Strengthening Delivery Systems for Greater Shock Responsiveness and Better Social and Fiscal Policies 94
Leveraging Social Protection to Promote Opportunities in the Labor Market 95
Doubling Down on Resilience and Shock and Crisis Responsiveness 98
Notes 101
References 102
Conclusion 108
Figures 8
FIGURE 1.1. Two Billion People in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Are Missed or Inadequately Covered by Social Protection 43
FIGURE 1.2. The Coverage Gap Increases Substantially if China and India Are Excluded 45
FIGURE 1.3. The Coverage Gap Rises to Almost Half for Those in the Poorest Quintile 46
FIGURE 1.4. In Low-Income Countries, Coverage Gaps Reach 98 percent among the Extreme Poor 47
FIGURE 2.1. Access to Social Protection Has Expanded Considerably over the Past Decade 50
FIGURE 2.2. Social Assistance Has the Greatest Coverage 52
FIGURE 2.3. Large Social Protection Coverage Gaps Persist Even When Contributors to Social Insurance Are Counted 54
FIGURE 2.4. Continuous Investments in Flagship Programs Have Facilitated Substantial Expansions 55
FIGURE 2.5. Cash Transfers and School Feeding Have the Highest Rates of Coverage among Social Assistance Programs 56
FIGURE 2.6. Outside Europe and Central Asia, Few People Contribute to Social Insurance Programs 59
FIGURE 2.7. The Number and Types of Active Labor Market Programs Offered Vary by Countries' Income Levels 62
FIGURE 2.8. Adequacy of Benefits Remains Low, Especially in Lower-Income Countries 64
FIGURE 2.9. The Poverty Impact of Social Assistance Is Stronger in High-Income Countries 65
FIGURE 2.10. Social Pensions and Unconditional Cash Transfers Are the Most Generous Social Assistance Transfers 67
FIGURE 2.11. Social Protection Spending Is Substantial but Does Not Meet Needs, Particularly in Low-Income Countries 69
FIGURE 2.12. Spending on Pensions Varies with Population Aging and Scheme Design 70
FIGURE 2.13. Low-Income and Fragile Countries Rely Heavily on International Grants 72
FIGURE 2.14. Social Protection Spending Increased Significantly during COVID-19 74
FIGURE 2.15. COVID-19 Spending Was Especially High for Social Assistance and Labor Market Programs 75
FIGURE 2.16. Countries with Better Pre-COVID-19 Coverage and Higher Spending Were Better Able to Expand Both 77
FIGURE 3.1. Existing Social Assistance Is Only Moderately Pro-poor 90
FIGURE 3.2. Social Assistance Could Be More Effective with Stronger Pro-poor Focus 91
FIGURE 3.3. Even with Increased Poverty Focus, More Funds Are Needed to Cover the Poor in Low-Income Countries 92
Maps 9
MAP I.1. Two Billion People in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Remain Uncovered or Inadequately Covered by Social Protection 24
Boxes 8
BOX I.1. Social Protection Promotes Equity, Resilience, and Opportunities 25
BOX 2.1. As Countries' Income Rises, More People Benefit from Social Protection Interventions 52
BOX 2.2. Women Are More Likely to Receive Social Protection Transfers Than Men 57
BOX 2.3. The Promise and Challenges of Voluntary Social Insurance Contributory Schemes 60
BOX 2.4. On Average, Women Receive Smaller Transfer Amounts Than Men 65
BOX 3.1. Evidence-Based Policy Making Requires Better Data 97
BOX 3.2. Economic Inclusion Programs Provide a New Policy Tool for Creating Opportunities and Building Resilience 99
Box Figures 8
FIGURE BI.1.1. Social Protection Promotes Equity, Resilience, and Opportunities 26
FIGURE B2.1.1. As Country Income Rises, More People Benefit from Social Protection Interventions 53
FIGURE B2.2.1. Women Are More Likely to Receive Social Protection Transfers Than Men 58
FIGURE B2.4.1. Social Protection Transfers Received by Men Are Substantially Higher Than Those Received by Women 66
