[The structure of old age insurance carriers and the principle of subsidies]

This paper reports on the organizational structure of public and non-public welfare institutions for the aid to the aged. The latter ("charitable non-profit associations") constitute the most important social institutions based on voluntary rather statutory provision of social services in the Federal Republic of Germany. The first section is devoted to a description of the legel provisions regarding goals, institutions, type and means of service provision of different institutions aiding the aged in relation to each other. In conclusion, the hierarchical structure of the institutions is discussed in relation to the observance of the principle of subsidiarity. In the framework of a critical discussion of the concept of neocorporationalism, it is pointed out that in any analysis of the institutional structure of the aid to the aged it is necessary to take into consideration the behavior of those concerned.