Portuguese prefer a reduction in the current level of benefits of the welfare state to an increase in contributions or taxes, according to a study carried out in eight Member States of the European Union and released on Tuesday.

The study, commissioned by the “Vision Europe Summit” – a network of “think tanks” (think tanks) that includes, among others, the Bertelsmann Stiftung (Germany), Jacques Delors Institute (France) and the Gulbenkian Foundation Gulbernkian (Portugal ) – reveals that 46.8% of the Portuguese advocate a reduction in benefits if the current social security system and pension prove unsustainable, and only 29.5% an increase in contributions (23.8% express no opinion) to make up the difference between revenue and expenditure.

The percentage of respondents who advocates an increase in contributions or taxes if these are not sufficient to maintain the current level of benefits (29.5%) is the lowest among the eight countries where the study was conducted, with Finland to emerge the head (55.9% in favor of an increase), followed by United Kingdom (49.9%), Germany (47.8%), Belgium (45.1%), France (36.8%), Poland and Italy (both 35.7%).
The study concludes that an increase in contributions faces more resistance in countries which have already taken place strong tax hikes due to the crisis, cases of Portugal and Italy.

Common citizens from eight countries have a pessimistic perspective on the future of the welfare state, with the vast majority in all Member States to consider that in 2050 the same can not meet the needs of citizens.

The main concerns in Portugal are related to pensions (56% of respondents are predicting that by 2050 the Portuguese system will not cover the needs in this area), with the support of the unemployed (55%) and health care (52%) .

Asked what should be the priority of the future social security system in the country, the majority of Portuguese respondents points to the provision of health care and care for the elderly.

[Source]