Sweden Finland Austria

English version and subsequent editions
As mentioned, the English version (1st edition) was based upon the ’August 1992’ study,
but the scope was narrower. Only the 5 countries, for which the APW-calculations were
performed, were included, and only the social security elements corresponding to the
selected ’standard’ income events were studied and compared. This was also the case in
the 2nd edition of the ’English version’, which primarily was an update to 1992 income
levels and rules for personal taxation and social security.
In the 3rd edition the number of cases was enhanced, and there was an update to 1993
income levels and rules. In the 4th edition of the study, the number of cases or ’standard’

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income events was the same as in the 3rd edition, the income levels and rules were for
1994, and Finland was included among the countries studied. The 5th edition was an
update to 1995 income levels and rules. The 6th edition had 1996 income levels and rules,
the number of cases was the same as in the 5th edition, and Canada was included in the
study. This 7th edition is based upon 1997 income levels and rules, the cases have been
enhanced to include disability pension and Austria is included among the countries stud-
ied. The 
special studies' chapters, which started in the 6th edition, have been continued
here, including up-dates for 1996 and 1997.
The income events applied in the study are:
Illness (one week for a single APW)
Unemployment (25 per cent and 100 per cent of the time for an insured and a non-
insured single APW. 100 per cent of the time for the insured partner, usually working
part time, in the APW-couple)
Injuries from work (33.3 per cent and 100 per cent loss of working capability for a
single APW)
Disability pension (after former working period for a single APW, without former
working period in relation to a single APW, the part time working partner in the APW-
couple becomes a disability pensioner)
Retirement (after former working period for a single APW and the APW couple,
without former working period in relation to a single APW)
Having children (1, 2 or 3 for the APW-couple)
Maternity leave (max. period in each country and common period for all countries)
It is evident that these elements are not constituting the complete social security systems,
e.g. education grants and social assistance are missing. On the other hand the selected
’standard’ events are important components of social security expenditures in the countries
studied. 
The APW-calculations are useful but by concept somewhat simplified, therefore the results
should be interpreted with care. More comprehensive comments on the APW-calculations
will be made as the results are presented in connection with the study of the separate
elements of the social security systems in the 8 countries.

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