A global perspective on statutory Social Security programs for the sick

Statutory sickness benefit programs have been adopted in 129 countries. Most have an employment-based strategy, social insurance, that restricts coverage to those in paid formal employment. The cash entitlements provided are predominantly earnings-related. Funding comes overwhelmingly from employer and employee contributions, with only a minority of countries providing government subsidies. A comparative-evaluative assessment methodology is used to assess national statutory intentions with respect to statutory social security provision for the sick. The best-designed statutory program is found in Sweden followed closely by France and then Australia, Austria and Germany. Algeria clearly leads the African rankings, as does Peru in Latin America, Iraq in the Middle East, and Nauru in the Pacific Islands. Turkmenistan has the best-designed statutory program in Asia, by a very small margin. In North America, Canada is well ahead of the United States.