Social welfare protection: the EU, USA and China

Since the 1980s largely ageing populations in developed countries have meant pressure for real budget increases for healthcare and pensions. This pressure remains present in the austerity-hit EU, where social welfare protection already accounts for a large part of Member State (MS) governments' costs. The US, with the world’s largest economy, has its own distinct welfare system. China has recently started to focus on welfare with significant budgetary increases, albeit from a relatively low base.