Source
Source Contact person/organisation Contact person/organisationIn this dataset, almost all OECD countries compile their data according to 2008 System of National Account (SNA).
The link to the file "ANA_changes.xls" is available for users to provide more information on where OECD countries and non member countries stand regarding the change over the 2008 SNA.
The readers' guide gives general information on the dataset and withheld criteria for this dataset.
Data Characteristics Data Characteristics Other data characteristics Other data characteristicsSocial contributions are actual or imputed payments to social insurance schemes to make provision for social insurance benefits (see D62_D63PS13S, Social benefits and social transfers in kind).
They may be made by employers on behalf of their employees or by employees, self-employed or non-employed persons on their own behalf. The contributions may be compulsory or voluntary and the schemes may be funded or unfunded. Compulsory social security contributions paid to government units or to social security funds under the effective control of government form an important part of government revenue and, although they are not treated so in the SNA, many analysts (including the OECD's Tax Directorate) consider the payments as being analogous to a tax on income and so part of a country's overall tax burden. They are important not only in the sense that they form a significant share of government revenue but also because they reflect part of the costs of doing business. In many developing countries high social contributions coupled with low social benefits are often cited as a reason for a large informal economy.
Concepts & Classifications Concepts & Classifications Key statistical concept Key statistical conceptDefinition
Social insurance schemes may be managed by any sector and the schemes may be funded or unfunded. Moreover the contributions paid to the schemes may be compulsory or voluntary. Typically the most important types of schemes are social security schemes; i.e. those imposed, controlled and financed by government. But in many countries the role of private funded or unfunded schemes is growing.
Social security funds established for social security schemes are separate institutional units in the SNA, forming a subcomponent of the government sector. Although contributions to the scheme are obligatory, payments can be made to the funds on a voluntary basis to qualify for social security benefits. Social insurance schemes organised by government for their own employees are classified as private funded or unfunded schemes as appropriate. As such, they may be part or not of government, depending on certain criteria.
Other Aspects Other Aspects Recommended uses and limitations Recommended uses and limitationsComparability
Not all countries operate social security schemes. Some may choose instead to finance social benefits paid by government through other taxes or revenue; which is one of the reasons why analysts often prefer to show the totality of taxes and social contributions in calculating the tax burden. But even these comparisons should be interpreted carefully. Governments may encourage employers and employees to opt out of social security schemes and instead pay contributions, even if compulsory, to schemes managed by corporations, thus reducing the revenues and expenditures of government, without necessarily reducing the well-being of households. This is one of the reasons why comparisons of taxes on income are often shown as rates, with the component for social contributions reflecting the compulsory rate irrespective of whether the associated scheme is managed by government or corporations.
In Finland, Iceland and the Netherlands, some contributions are levied as a function of taxable income (i.e. gross wage earnings after most/all tax reliefs). Australia and New Zealand do not levy social security contributions.
In this dataset, almost all OECD countries compile their data according to 2008 System of National Account (SNA).
The link to the file "ANA_changes.xls" is available for users to provide more information on where OECD countries and non member countries stand regarding the change over the 2008 SNA.
The readers' guide gives general information on the dataset and withheld criteria for this dataset.
Social contributions are actual or imputed payments to social insurance schemes to make provision for social insurance benefits (see D62_D63PS13S, Social benefits and social transfers in kind).
They may be made by employers on behalf of their employees or by employees, self-employed or non-employed persons on their own behalf. The contributions may be compulsory or voluntary and the schemes may be funded or unfunded. Compulsory social security contributions paid to government units or to social security funds under the effective control of government form an important part of government revenue and, although they are not treated so in the SNA, many analysts (including the OECD's Tax Directorate) consider the payments as being analogous to a tax on income and so part of a country's overall tax burden. They are important not only in the sense that they form a significant share of government revenue but also because they reflect part of the costs of doing business. In many developing countries high social contributions coupled with low social benefits are often cited as a reason for a large informal economy.
Definition
Social insurance schemes may be managed by any sector and the schemes may be funded or unfunded. Moreover the contributions paid to the schemes may be compulsory or voluntary. Typically the most important types of schemes are social security schemes; i.e. those imposed, controlled and financed by government. But in many countries the role of private funded or unfunded schemes is growing.
Social security funds established for social security schemes are separate institutional units in the SNA, forming a subcomponent of the government sector. Although contributions to the scheme are obligatory, payments can be made to the funds on a voluntary basis to qualify for social security benefits. Social insurance schemes organised by government for their own employees are classified as private funded or unfunded schemes as appropriate. As such, they may be part or not of government, depending on certain criteria.
Comparability
Not all countries operate social security schemes. Some may choose instead to finance social benefits paid by government through other taxes or revenue; which is one of the reasons why analysts often prefer to show the totality of taxes and social contributions in calculating the tax burden. But even these comparisons should be interpreted carefully. Governments may encourage employers and employees to opt out of social security schemes and instead pay contributions, even if compulsory, to schemes managed by corporations, thus reducing the revenues and expenditures of government, without necessarily reducing the well-being of households. This is one of the reasons why comparisons of taxes on income are often shown as rates, with the component for social contributions reflecting the compulsory rate irrespective of whether the associated scheme is managed by government or corporations.
In Finland, Iceland and the Netherlands, some contributions are levied as a function of taxable income (i.e. gross wage earnings after most/all tax reliefs). Australia and New Zealand do not levy social security contributions.