To understand what is wrong with social protection in Europe, picture watering a garden with a watering-can full of holes.

No matter how full the watering-can, huge amounts of water intended for the plants will be wasted, leaving the flowers to wilt. There are similarly wasteful ‘leakages’ in Europe’s generous social-protection schemes, with an astounding number of people missing out on the benefits intended for them. One study put the proportion not gaining access to the benefits to which they are entitled at above 40 per cent for most European Union social-protection schemes considered. Read More