Title: Development of service pension policy in Latvia from 1996 until 2016
Abstract: The government made a decision to terminate the development of the service pension in 1997. However, during 1998–2016 the scope of service pension beneficiaries was extended. Thereby along with the overall social insurance pension system, the social pension scheme has been established and developed for a certain range of people funded by the state budget – the system of the service pension. The aim of the article is to explore the development of the service pension policy during 1996–2016. To accomplish it, in the framework of the study concepts related to the service pensions and the tendencies of reformation of the service pension schemes were studied. The international practice and the experience of several countries were explored, as well as the analysis of legal acts, policy planning papers and statistics was performed. The purpose of the service pension has changed and diversified, moreover, the issues regarding the service pension coverage are promoted by a group of politicians, escaping a wider discussion in public and even in the government.