Pensions Books

Book SynopsisThe book is the first of its kind to attempt to deal with the economics of pensions and ageing on the basis of a rigorous theoretical framework alternative to neoclassical economics.Sergio Cesaratto breaks the dominant conformism in the current pension debate and explains that the strength of the various reforms proposed depends on the validity of the economic theories on which they are respectively based. He also illustrates the relevance of the Sraffian criticism to undermine the theoretical core of the mainstream proposals.Academics and practitioners interested in the pension debate, welfare state, income distribution and institutions will find Pension Reform and Economic Theory of great interest, as will demographers, political scientists and mainstream economists open to dissenting views in economic analysis and interested in understanding the economic foundations of pension reform proposals.Trade Review'. . . reading it broadens one's mind and makes one realise that economic theory is not finished but still in development; the current move toward using insights from other disciplines is a good example. The real challenge would be to find a way to synthesize the classical and neo-classical approach. In that respect, the book succeeds in providing thoughts and ideas for further research.''This book is a scholarly treatise that illuminates the precepts of neoclassical economics and pensions which orthodox pension economists tend to take largely for granted, and it challenges readers to examine other possible interpretations. . . a well-marked and easy-to-follow pathway into the economics of pensions. . . both newcomers and specialists will find it worth their time to read this book.' -- Journal of Pension Economics and FinanceTable of ContentsContents: Introduction 1. Alternative Views of PAYG as a Social Institution 2. Re-engineering PAYG: The Controversy over the Notional Defined Contribution Reforms 3. The Conventional Interpretation of a Fully-Funded Scheme and Capital Theory 4. The Transition from PAYG to FF Schemes 5. The Controversy over the Social Security Surplus 6. The Classical-Keynesian Macroeconomics of Pension Reform in Closed and Open Economies 7. Classical and Neoclassical Perspectives on the Welfare State and Pensions 8. The Viability of an Ageing Society: A Classical Exploration 9. Summary of the Main Arguments References Index

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Book SynopsisThis timely book provides an authoritative analysis of the pension reform process in nine countries, namely Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and USA, with Japan being covered in the introduction by the editors. The book draws on the work of experts from each of these countries to provide a picture of how the pension systems work in each country.The contributors examine the policy reform process in each country, against the background of the fiscal stresses arising from the ageing populations in OECD countries. They also analyse whether different types of pension delivery systems (e.g. the public-private mix) generate different standards of living. Each study is prepared according to a common template allowing meaningful analysis of pension delivery and outcomes across countries using similar macroeconomic statistics and microdata. Pension Systems and Retirement Incomes across OECD Countries is an extremely valuable and empirically sound book on a highly topical subject. It will appeal to scholars of economics, public policy, political science and finance as well as being of great interest to policymakers and practitioners involved in pension fund management.Trade Review'This is a readable work, accessible to the non economist.' -- Ken Marston, Australasian Journal on AgeingTable of ContentsContents: Preface 1. An Overview 2. Pension Provision in Australia 3. Pension Provision in Canada 4. Pension Provision in France 5. Pension Provision in Germany 6. Pension Provision in Italy 7. Pension Provision in the Netherlands 8. Pension Provision in New Zealand 9. Pension Provision in the United Kingdom 10. Pension Provision in the United States Index

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Book SynopsisIn this book a distinguished group of contributors discuss the changing political economy of pension reform. They focus on those countries which have launched a significant reframing of their pension system. Each chapter provides a detailed review of recent pension reforms and offers institutional evidence of the extent to which these reforms suggest a redirection of the welfare state towards a more public-private mix of policies. The countries were selected to represent the variety of new directions which mature industrial countries as well as countries in transition have taken.The book brings to light a number of surprising developments. These include the observation that pension systems do not conform to pure models of welfare system regimes; that a number of diverse developments have contributed to the extension of private pensions; that an emerging pattern of substituting private for public pensions can be detected but public provision still dominates in transition economies and that traditional employer-provided private pension schemes are undergoing significant change. One conclusion is that the design of the pension scheme may be more important than the mix of public-private in preventing the growth of inequality among the aged.This important book will be essential reading for scholars of economics, public policy, political science and finance as well as policymakers and practitioners involved in pension system reform.Trade Review'This first comprehensive analysis of public-private mixings discovers pension systems as rather flexible 'hybrid forms' not locked in as "uniform types". The balance shifts towards extended coverage of private pensions or functional privatization of public pensions - the private increasingly substituted for the public, and the contribution-benefit link is forged closer. What does the future hold? Surely, more income inequality in old age - unless "the rest of society" is already characterized by low poverty rates and low inequality, or unless active political design of the public-private mix compensates for social polarization, preventing a 21st century return of "the two nations". The modern state may "devolve" delivery of benefits - but an ageing electorate will still hold the state responsible for designing the requisite mix.' -- Stephan Leibfried, University of Bremen, Germany'This is the best book out there for surveying the variety of mixed public-private systems that have been sweeping the social security world during the last two decades. Separate chapters written by experts from each country explain what is happening in OECD countries, Latin America and the transitional economies, placing the recent multi-pillar reforms into the context of each country's history and political structure. Cross-cutting chapters by Rein and Schmahl pull it all together. This enables us to view both the commonalities and differences across countries, and to evaluate how path dependencies operate through time. I recommend it as a valuable reference source.' -- Estelle James, The Urban Institute, USTable of ContentsContents: Introduction Part I: The Experience of Mature Welfare States in Western Economies A. Contracting Out: The Experience in the United Kingdom and Japan 1. Contracting Out of the State Pension System: The British Experience of Carrots and Sticks 2. The Relationship between the Role of the Corporate Pension and the Public Pension Plan in Japan B. Mandating of Contractual Agreements: Australia, Switzerland and the Netherlands 3. Reforming Pensions: The Australian Experience 4. The Institutionalization of the Swiss Multi-pillar Pension System 5. The Quality of the Dutch Pension System: Will it be Sustainable in the Twenty-first Century? C. Carve-outs: Germany, USA and Swedish Financial Accounts 6. Paradigm Shift in German Pension Policy: Measures Aiming at a New Public–Private Mix and their Effects 7. Individual Accounts and the Continuing Debate over Social Security Reform in the United States 8. Public Pension Reform and Contractual Agreements in Sweden: From Defined Benefit to Defined Contribution D. Pathways Towards a Mixed Public–Private Pension System 9. How Societies Mix Public and Private Spheres in their Pension Systems 10. Whose Money is it Anyhow? Governance and Social Investment in Collective Investment Funds Part II: Economies in Transition and Latin America 11. Home-made Pension Reforms in Central and Eastern Europe and the Evolution of the World Bank Approach to Modern Pension Systems 12. Public and Private Mix in the Polish Pension System 13. Conflicting Interests in Shaping Hungary’s New Private Pension Scheme 14. Latin American and East European Pension Reforms: Accounting for a Paradigm Shift Part III: The Public–Private Mix and Wellbeing in Aged Households 15. The Public–Private Mix of Retirement Income in Nine OECD Countries: Some Evidence from Micro Data and an Exploration of its Implications 16. Income Packaging and Economic Wellbeing in the Last Stage of the Working Career Index

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses on pension policies in Europe and interestingly includes comparisons both within the EU and between EU countries and the US. The authors show how different countries are confronted with similar problems and that comparison of national experiences may be of great help for the 'open method of coordination' now adopted in the EU.The papers deal mainly with the effects of the huge payroll taxes differentials between countries on individual retirement choices and the labour market, with taxation of contributions and pensions, and with the portability of occupational pensions. The main impact on labour supply is shown to be early retirement due to actuarially unfair pension formulae. The authors also argue that the US experience shows that taxation of contributions and savings for old-age may not generate the hoped for incentive effects, while an example of inconsistent taxation of pensions is offered by Germany. Finally, it is shown that limited portability of defined benefits plans does not appear to be a strong impediment to labour mobility in Europe.Pension Policy in an Integrating Europe will be valued by scholars of both public policy, public finance and European studies, and those practitioners and policymakers involved in insurance in the EU.Trade Review'Pension policy continues to be a central concern in Europe. This topical volume brings together some of the most knowledgeable authorities in the field of pension economics to consider key questions: the impact of pension costs on employment, the role of pensions taxation, and portability of private pensions in Europe.' -- Richard Disney, University of Nottingham, UK'Pension systems as essential institutions are perpetually pressured to meet lofty welfare and insurance goals, while still satisfying fiscal and efficiency constraints. This book provides several European perspectives for reform options from key thinkers active in the policy arena. All seeking to save pensions from their many contradictions should peruse the prescriptions offered here.' -- Olivia S. Mitchell, Pension Research Council, Wharton School, US'One of the few books bridging the gap between research on pensions and scientific literature on labour market participation. It contains a wealth of data and useful institutional material for scholars of the field and has far reaching implications for the design of policies in an increasingly integrated Europe.' -- Tito Boeri, Bocconi University Milan, ItalyTable of ContentsContents: Introductory Remarks 1. An Overview Part I: Payroll Taxes, the Labour Market and Retirement Choices 2. Ageing in Europe: A Cross-Country Comparison 3. Labour Taxes and Unemployment: A Survey of the Aggregate Evidence 4. Measuring the Impact of the Italian CFL Programme on the Job Opportunities for the Youths 5. Are We Retiring too Early? Part II: Taxation and Pensions 6. Saving Incentives in the US 7. Retirement Benefit and Pension Taxation Principles Part III: Pension Portability Issues 8. Tenuous Property Rights: The Unraveling of Defined Benefit Contracts in the US 9. Occupational Pensions and Job Mobility in the European Union Index

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Book SynopsisIn the 1990s many Latin American countries decided upon full or partial pension privatisation, and a similar wave of reforms is currently taking place in Eastern Europe. Privatising Old-Age Security aims to examine what may account for this paradigm change in an area previously considered difficult to reform. Attempting to explore and explain the similarities and differences in pension policy both intra- and inter-regionally, this book analyses the political economy of radical pension reform in using case studies from Argentina, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Peru, Poland and Uruguay. By shedding light on the political viability of market-oriented reforms the book is a valuable and unique contribution to the understanding of the political economy of policy reform.With its unprecedented selection of case studies and application of theoretical insights, this book will appeal to researchers and academics of economics, public finance, social policy administration and transition studies. Moreover, policymakers will be intrigued by the up-to-date analysis of recent pension reforms.Trade Review'This is a fine comparative political economy interpretation of policy reform applied to pension systems in eight bold reformer countries of Latin America and Eastern Europe. The author shows great skill and sensible caution in showing what a multi-faceted, sometimes elusive undertaking reform is, involving many different actors with often conflicting goals. Considered within the specific policy and economic contexts, the analysis shows remarkable dexterity in confronting pension system reforms in countries that have being going through important or deep systemic transformation, and that have used pension system reform also to pursue broader and deeper changes and macroeconomic stabilisation.' -- Bruno Dallago, University of Trento, Italy'Privatising Old-Age Security is a fine example of contemporary political economy. Its theoretical perspective is equally sensitive to political and economic factors, and the cases are researched in uncommon depth. Its comparison of Eastern Europe and Latin America is unique in the literature on pension reform but obviously important. It will stand as a landmark example of sophisticated policy analysis.' -- Barry Ames, University of Pittsburgh, US'This book follows the reform of pension systems in eight countries. All cases were slightly different but, despite substantial differences in starting points and political conditions, there was a surprisingly high degree of similarity in a common trend towards partial privatisation. The author does not discuss whether such reforms could lead to better pension systems. That issue appears to have been of little relevance to their adoption. Instead, she focuses on factors that did influence the political processes in the countries concerned. The result is an important contribution towards an understanding of policy transfer in different institutional settings. It is an excellent example of the power of the comparative approach for examining how far the World Bank and other international financial institutions can persuade governments to accept their thinking.' -- Martin Myant, University of Paisley, UK'Katharina Mueller opens our eyes to the political and economic forces at work in the privatization of pension schemes, casting light on processes that were previously obscure.' -- Elaine Fultz, International Labour Office, Budapest, HungaryTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction Part I: The Conceptual Framework 2. From State to Market: Explaining Policy Reform 3. Understanding Pension Reform Part II: Privatising Old-Age Security in Latin America 4. Regional Background: Old-Age Security in Latin America 5. Pension Privatisation in the Southern Cone 6. Pension Privatisation in the Andean Region Part III: Privatising Old-Age Security in Eastern Europe 7. Regional Background: Old-Age Security in the Transition Countries 8. Pension Privatisation in East-Central Europe 9. Pension Privatisation in South-Eastern Europe Part IV: Comparative Analysis and Conclusions 10. The Political Economy of Pension Privatisation 11. Conclusions References Index

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Book SynopsisSince the early 1990s the countries of the European Union and Central and Eastern Europe have been involved in the process of reforming their retirement income systems. The principal objective of these reforms is to contain the cost of pay-as-you-go public pensions in the face of ageing populations. Many of the reforms involve greater reliance on personal saving and the development of capital markets to fund private pension arrangements. The distinguished contributors from Europe and the United States demonstrate the complexity of pension provision and reform, and highlight the dangers of focusing on one particular model. They consider critical issues and debates about how to finance pensions, present evidence on the effects of pension reform on the incomes of the elderly, set out objectives to ensure intergenerational equity in public pensions, and examine different pathways to pension coverage. They also argue that recent reforms in Europe may have the effect of reducing the incomes of future pensioners while exposing them to uninsurable risks associated with private pensions. This book addresses a pervasive and increasingly important issue by identifying differences in pension systems throughout the EU and Europe as a whole, and proposing various reforms and solutions to the emerging problem of pension provision. It will prove essential reading and a valuable source of reference for academics, economists, policymakers and government agencies concerned with the evolution and reform of pensions, and with social and economic development in general.Trade Review'This volume makes a valuable contribution to understanding the variety and complexity of reforms and their impacts.' -- Mark Harvey, Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations'Gerard Hughes and Jim Stewart have put together a very informative and insightful collection of essays on pension provision in Europe and its future. . . Reforming Pensions in Europe will interest all those concerned with the long-term impacts of an ageing society.' -- Robin Blackburn, Journal of Social PolicyTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction Part I: Pension Reforms: Issues and Debates 2. The 2001 Pension Reform Act in Germany and Income in Old Age 3. Are the UK’s Pension Objectives Attainable? 4. Pension Privatisation in Hungary and Poland: A Comparative Overview 5. Labour Cost, Social Security and Employee Severance Funds Part II: Pension Reforms and Incomes of the Elderly 6. The Impact of Pension Reforms on Older People’s Income: A Comparative View 7. Income of Retired Persons in Ireland: Some Evidence from Household Budget Surveys 8. Financing Pensions by Stealth: The Anglo-American Model and the Cost and Distribution of Tax Benefits for Private Pensions 9. Labour Market Changes and Pension Entitlement in France: What Prospects? 10. Germany’s Pension Reform in 2001: More or Less Gender Equality? 11. Occupational Pensions in Sweden from a Gender Perspective Part III: Changing Forms of Solidarity 12. Intergenerational Equity and Pension Reform 13. Pathways to Pension Coverage Index

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Book SynopsisPopulation ageing and the resulting pressures on existing pension systems constitutes one of the most important challenges modern societies will have to face over the coming decades. Although governments have responded to such pressures by adopting a plethora of pension reforms, the adaptation process is far from over. This book comprehensively documents developments in pension policy in eleven advanced industrial countries in Western Europe, East Asia and North America. In order to explore what population ageing means for the sustainability of pension systems, the authors present a detailed review of pension policy making over the past two decades and provide up-to-date analysis of current pension legislation. They examine the factors that can facilitate or impede the adaptation of pension systems and the features that shape and determine reforms. They also highlight the fact that although the path of reform taken by each country is somewhat different, the processes at work are often very similar. Ageing populations throughout the world are extremely reluctant to see their pension systems dismantled and are therefore prepared to mobilise in their defence. This process of mobilisation interacts with demographic pressures and institutional constraints to help determine the future direction of pension policy. The breadth of geographic coverage provides an almost global picture of the impact of ageing on pension reform, at least in terms of high income countries. Academics and students with an interest in economics, social policy, sociology and political science will find this a worthwhile and rewarding volume. It will also be of value to policymakers interested in how the problem of unsustainable pension systems can be resolved.Trade Review'This is an admirable example of a multi-authored comparative book. The two editors set the scene very carefully in the opening chapter and the subsequent chapters follow the framework set out and use the concepts explored there. In this never simple policy area, national systems are explained as clearly as possible by each author.' -- Michael Hill, Journal of Social Policy'This is an enlightening introduction to the global dimensions and complexity of pension reform. Recommended.' -- J.F. O'Connell, ChoiceTable of ContentsContents: 1. Population Ageing and the Logics of Pension Reform in Western Europe, East Asia and North America Giuliano Bonoli and Toshimitsu Shinkawa 2. Reconfiguring Italian Pensions: From Policy Stalemate to Comprehensive Reforms Maurizio Ferrera and Matteo Jessoula 3. New Century – New Paradigm: Pension Reforms in Germany Karl Hinrichs 4. The Politics of Pension Reform in France: The End of Exceptionalism? Christelle Mandin and Bruno Palier 5. Pension Reform in Sweden: Radical Reform in a Mature Pension System Karen M. Anderson 6. UK Pension Reform: A Test Case for a Liberal Welfare State? Peter Taylor-Gooby 7. Switzerland: Adapting Pensions within Tight Institutional Constraints Giuliano Bonoli 8. The Politics of Pension Reform in Japan: Institutional Legacies, Credit-claiming and Blame Avoidance Toshimitsu Shinkawa 9. Pension Reform in Taiwan: The Old and the New Politics of Welfare Chen-Wei Lin 10. Pension Reform in Korea: Conflict between Social Solidarity and Long-term Financial Sustainability Yeon Myung Kim and Kyo-seong Kim 11. Public Pension Reform in the United States R. Kent Weaver 12. Stasis Amidst Change: Canadian Pension Reform in an Age of Retrenchment Daniel Béland and John Myles Index

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Book SynopsisPension Systems enters into the current lively debate on European pensions. The focus of the book is the analysis of public intervention in individuals' retirement choice, its rationale and the desirability of legislation introducing a sizeable and compulsory increase in retirement age, to face the prospects of swift population ageing. The book assesses the impact of different retirement rules on individual decisions, on the sustainability of social security systems and on labour market dynamics, and inquires whether mandatory retirement has not become an outdated feature of modern pension systems. The motivations behind public intervention in fixing compulsory retirement rules as well as the likely consequences of allowing the individual a higher responsibility in retirement choices are analysed. These issues are examined both theoretically and empirically and through a focus on country-specific patterns of retirement and on policy issues relevant at the European level. The impact of later retirement on the labour market is also investigated, considering the role of retirement rules in increasing employment. This comprehensive and topical book will appeal to academics and scholars of public finance as well as pensions experts and organisations.Trade Review'I recommend this book to all who are interested in European pension systems and ageing-of-the-population problems. The presentation is in a rather accessible non-technical style, so policy and opinion makers should also take notice.' -- Sybille Grob, De EconomistTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction Part I: Increasing Retirement Age: Principles and Practice 2. Social Security Rules that Vary with Age 3. Retirement Incentives and Retirement 4. A Discussion Part II: Country Experiences 5. Patterns of Retirement in Germany: How They Emerged, and How to Change Them 6. Assessing the Impact of Pensions Policy Reform in Ireland: The Case of Increasing the Pension Age 7. Retirement Age Rules and Pension Reforms in Italy 8. Retirement Choices of Older Workers in Italy 9. Income Expectations and Outcomes at Mandatory Retirement in the Netherlands Index

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Book SynopsisThe rapid ageing of societies in many industrialized countries threatens the stability of unfunded public pension systems. An immigration policy that accepts young workers would appear to be a simple solution to the challenge, by increasing the number of contributors to the pension system. Tim Krieger uses public choice analysis to investigate whether a majority of voters would pursue an active immigration policy in order to stabilize its unfunded public pension system. Public Pensions and Immigration is a thorough and rigorous treatment of pension policy and international labor migration based on public choice theory, including an extensive discussion of pension policy in Europe and the challenges arising from increased labor mobility between EU member states. Tim Krieger reveals that the voting outcome critically depends on such parameters as the type of pension system, migrant qualifications and the possibility of return migration. He argues that the EU institutional framework, with respect to pension policy, cannot prevent harmful migration between EU member countries which is, in part, induced by differences in pension systems. This book will appeal to researchers and scholars in the fields of economics, public choice, political science, European integration and migration. Policymakers involved in pension policy, immigration policy and European integration policy will also find this an illuminating book.Trade Review'. . . it should be welcomed by analysts, researchers, and others interested in one of the most intractable problems of Western societies - the affordability of a welfare state when a population is ageing.' -- Jonathan Grant, Population Studies'The relationship between ageing societies and immigration raises a variety of key social and political questions. Krieger provides an invaluable examination of the issues particularly surrounding their impact on pensions, voting and public opinion. As public debate on immigration increasingly heats up, this is a very timely book.' -- Steven Vertovec, University of Oxford, UKTable of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Introduction 2. Some Basic Facts on Ageing Societies and Immigration 3. Unfunded Pension Systems, Ageing Societies and Immigration 4. The Political Economy of Pension Policy and Immigration 5. A General Voting Model on Immigration and Pensions 6. Voting on Immigration when Pension Systems Differ 7. Redistribution and Labor Mobility 8. Pension Policy in the European Union 9. Pension Policy and the EU Eastern Enlargement 10. Concluding Remarks Appendices References Index

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Book SynopsisPopulation ageing and the resulting pressures on existing pension systems constitutes one of the most important challenges modern societies will have to face over the coming decades. Although governments have responded to such pressures by adopting a plethora of pension reforms, the adaptation process is far from over. This book comprehensively documents developments in pension policy in eleven advanced industrial countries in Western Europe, East Asia and North America. In order to explore what population ageing means for the sustainability of pension systems, the authors present a detailed review of pension policy making over the past two decades and provide up-to-date analysis of current pension legislation. They examine the factors that can facilitate or impede the adaptation of pension systems and the features that shape and determine reforms. They also highlight the fact that although the path of reform taken by each country is somewhat different, the processes at work are often very similar. Ageing populations throughout the world are extremely reluctant to see their pension systems dismantled and are therefore prepared to mobilise in their defence. This process of mobilisation interacts with demographic pressures and institutional constraints to help determine the future direction of pension policy. The breadth of geographic coverage provides an almost global picture of the impact of ageing on pension reform, at least in terms of high income countries. Academics and students with an interest in economics, social policy, sociology and political science will find this a worthwhile and rewarding volume. It will also be of value to policymakers interested in how the problem of unsustainable pension systems can be resolved.Trade Review'This is an admirable example of a multi-authored comparative book. The two editors set the scene very carefully in the opening chapter and the subsequent chapters follow the framework set out and use the concepts explored there. In this never simple policy area, national systems are explained as clearly as possible by each author.' -- Michael Hill, Journal of Social Policy'This is an enlightening introduction to the global dimensions and complexity of pension reform. Recommended.' -- J.F. O'Connell, ChoiceTable of ContentsContents: 1. Population Ageing and the Logics of Pension Reform in Western Europe, East Asia and North America Giuliano Bonoli and Toshimitsu Shinkawa 2. Reconfiguring Italian Pensions: From Policy Stalemate to Comprehensive Reforms Maurizio Ferrera and Matteo Jessoula 3. New Century – New Paradigm: Pension Reforms in Germany Karl Hinrichs 4. The Politics of Pension Reform in France: The End of Exceptionalism? Christelle Mandin and Bruno Palier 5. Pension Reform in Sweden: Radical Reform in a Mature Pension System Karen M. Anderson 6. UK Pension Reform: A Test Case for a Liberal Welfare State? Peter Taylor-Gooby 7. Switzerland: Adapting Pensions within Tight Institutional Constraints Giuliano Bonoli 8. The Politics of Pension Reform in Japan: Institutional Legacies, Credit-claiming and Blame Avoidance Toshimitsu Shinkawa 9. Pension Reform in Taiwan: The Old and the New Politics of Welfare Chen-Wei Lin 10. Pension Reform in Korea: Conflict between Social Solidarity and Long-term Financial Sustainability Yeon Myung Kim and Kyo-seong Kim 11. Public Pension Reform in the United States R. Kent Weaver 12. Stasis Amidst Change: Canadian Pension Reform in an Age of Retrenchment Daniel Béland and John Myles Index

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Book SynopsisOver the last decade pension reform in the West has focused upon the need for more private provision in order to combat the effects of societal ageing. The consequences of these reforms for citizens' incomes during retirement are currently under-explored - including questions such as how protective public-private pension systems are, particularly for citizens without lifelong, full-time employment biographies.This rigorous study sheds light on these issues. It assesses the extent to which six European multi-pillar pension regimes are socially inclusive, by micro-simulating retirement income for hypothetical citizens facing typical post-industrial risks. This timely book suggests that non-state provision has significant limitations, yet also identifies the political and institutional conditions under which private pensions are indeed reconcilable with social inclusion.Private Pensions versus Social Inclusion? will appeal to policymakers, scholars and experts from NGOs and other statistical organisations involved in comparative social policy and pension analysis. Post-graduate students of comparative social policy, gerontology, public economics and economic sociology will also find much to engage them within the book.Trade Review'. . . the book offers a subtle and complex overview of the income maintenance and social inclusion challenges associated with the governance of both public and private pension schemes in advanced industrial countries. . . Private Pensions versus Social Inclusion? is an important contribution to the pension literature and a must-read for scholars in the field.' -- Daniel Beland, Canadian Studies in Population'This brilliant book makes both a splendid contribution to the pensions debate and represents an important step forward in comparative research on complex policy issues, through its effective use of simulation techniques. . . this book makes a most important contribution to the debate.' -- Michael Hill, Social Policy and Administration'The book is a sophisticated and informative analysis of pension or welfare regimes. . . well presented and informative and will be of interest to both students and academics who wish to further their understanding of pension systems and the impact of policies in the cited European countries. . . its methodology will be of interest, particularly on the reading list of undergraduate students or as a teaching text on a specific module.' -- Orla Gough, Ageing and Society'Private Pensions versus Social Inclusion? is an excellent book that fills an important gap in the literature on pensions. As governments across Europe expand private pensions as a solution to the financing problems of public pay-as-you-go schemes, there is a large and growing need to investigate the real world effects of these policy shifts. The great strength of this book is its use of different risk biographies to show how the interaction of public and private pension provision influences the retirement income of specific categories of people, not just the "average production worker". The country studies investigate how different pension schemes influence the retirement income of the most common actually-existing risk profiles. The authors' investigation of how marriage, child-rearing, and atypical and part-time employment influence pension income is a considerable achievement. This book is indispensable for scholars and practitioners concerned with pension reform.' -- Karen Anderson, Nijmegen University, The NetherlandsTable of ContentsContents: PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Private Pensions versus Social Inclusion? Citizens at Risk and the New Pensions Orthodoxy Paul Bridgen and Traute Meyer PART II: CASE STUDIES: THE VETERANS 2. The British Pension System and Social Inclusion Paul Bridgen and Traute Meyer 3. The Dutch Pension System and Social Inclusion Duco Bannink and Bert de Vroom 4. The Swiss Pension System and Social Inclusion Fabio Bertozzi and Giuliano Bonoli PART III: CASE STUDIES: THE NEWCOMERS 5. The German Pension System and Social Inclusion Barbara Riedmüller and Michaela Willert 6. The Italian Pension System and Social Inclusion Michele Raitano 7. The Polish Pension System and Social Inclusion Marek Benio and Joanna Ratajczak-Tucholka PART IV: CONCLUSION 8. Private Pensions versus Social Inclusion? Three Patterns of Provision and their Impact Paul Bridgen and Traute Meyer Index

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Book SynopsisThe academic literature on pension governance is sparse and this book will fill some important gaps by bringing together original contributions from around the world on subjects related to the area. The book initially lays out the main frameworks for pension fund governance and then goes on to examine global governance practice and experience and country studies on pension funds in the United States and Australia. The final section of this in-depth study discusses the role of government guarantees.The editors and contributors to this book have struck a balance between the various dimensions of the governance problem. Whilst ensuring that the theoretical frameworks are represented, at the same time, they have also recognized that it is vital to report on empirical work. Private pensions are examined closely, while also acknowledging that public pension funds are extremely important actors. Pension Fund Governance will appeal to academics and researchers of financial economics and financial management, as well as those in the fields of public finance and public sector economics. Furthermore the book will also find an audience among those in commercial and policy roles which involve pensions, including pension actuaries.Trade Review'This collection of essays on a rapidly developing topic is a valuable addition to the field and the editors must be congratulated on beginning to bring the area to the attention of thinkers and government (not necessarily the same thing), who are charged with dealing with the challenge of controlling private pension provision.' -- Robin Ellison, PensionsTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction John Evans, Michael Orszag and John Piggott PART I: FRAMEWORKS 2. Pension Fund Governance: Expertise and Organizational Form Gordon L. Clark 3. Pension and Corporate Governance Reforms: Are They Twins? Mario Catalán 4. Conflicted Super Structures: Are Australian Investors Being Short-changed? Anthony Asher PART II: GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE 5. Pension Supervision: Understanding International Practice and Country Context Richard P. Hinz and Anca Mataoanu 6. Governance of Public Pension Plans: The Importance of Residual Claimants Gregorio Impavido 7. Benchmarking the Performance of Superannuation Funds Hazel Bateman and Robert J. Hill PART III: COUNTRY STUDIES 8. Public Sector Pension Governance, Funding and Performance: A Longitudinal Appraisal Tongxuan (Stella) Yang and Olivia S. Mitchell 9. How do Australian Superannuation Fund Trustees Perceive their Role and Effectiveness? Vrinda Gupta, Henry Jin, Michael Orszag and John Piggott PART IV: GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES 10. Pricing Defined Benefit Pension Insurance David McCarthy and Anthony Neuberger References Index

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Book SynopsisHow to deliver adequate pension benefits at reasonable costs is a huge challenge confronting our ageing societies. This book delivers a comprehensive overview of the latest insights into pension finance, pension system design, pension governance and risk based supervision. It combines state-of-the-art analyses with innovative policy proposals to increase the efficiency and resilience of pension systems and to advance these systems' contribution to global financial stability. Renowned pension experts offer cutting-edge guidance for future decision making and the development of best practices. This exciting exploration of the frontiers in pension finance highlights key aspects of securing long term retirement provisions.Frontiers in Pension Finance will be of interest to a wide-ranging audience, especially academic researchers, pension practitioners, supervisors and public sector policymakers.Trade Review'In this fresh and valuable volume, experts from across the world provide guidance on pension design, risk management, and governance that is urgently needed in this rapidly changing pension environment. Aging populations are putting pressure on pay-as-you-go pension systems and spurring a shift to prefunded plans. Greater prefunding requires efficient risk management and judicious regulation and supervision. This book provides state-of-the-art analyses of these issues and should be required reading for scholars, practitioners, and anyone interested in the future of pensions.' -- Alicia H. Munnell, Boston College, Carroll School of Management and Center for Retirement Research, USTable of ContentsContents: Preface Nout Wellink 1. An Introduction to Frontiers in Pension Finance Dirk Broeders, Sylvester Eijffinger and Aerdt Houben 2. Are Market Values Fair? Jon Exley Discussion by Peter Schotman 3. The Intersection of Pensions and Enterprise Risk Management Jeremy Gold Discussion by Theo Nijman 4. The Victory of Hope Over Angst? Funding, Asset Allocation and Risk Taking in German Public Sector Pension Reform Raimond Maurer, Olivia Mitchell and Ralph Rogalla Discussion by Tom Steenkamp, Roy Hoevenaars and Roderick Molenaar 5. Labour Productivity in an Aging Society Axel Börsch-Supan, Ismail Düzgün and Matthias Weiss Discussion by Klaas Knot 6. It is all Back to Front: Critical Issues in the Design of Defined Contribution Pension Plans David Blake Discussion by Solange Berstein 7. Risk-based Supervision of Pension Funds: A Review of International Experience and Preliminary Assessment of the First Outcomes Gregory Brunner, Richard Hinz and Roberto Rocha Discussion by Coen N. Teulings 8. The Ideal Pension-Delivery Organization: Theory and Practice Keith Ambachtsheer Discussion by Ambrogio Rinaldi 9. Pension Guarantees, Capital Adequacy and International Risk Sharing Zvi Bodie Discussion by Kees Koedijk 10. Frontiers in Pension Finance and Reform: Institutional Innovation in the Netherlands Lans Bovenberg Discussion by Ross Jones 11. Population Aging, Financial Markets and Monetary Policy Lucas Papademos 12. Panel Discussions Dirk Witteveen, John Ashcroft, Henrik Bjerre-Nielsen and Lans Bovenberg Index

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Book SynopsisIn response to demographic change many countries in the European Union have reformed their pension systems. During the last two decades personal pensions have been introduced in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the UK. This book is a critical examination of the objectives of personal pensions in these countries and the use of tax incentives to encourage individuals to save for their retirement. It also includes discussion on personal pensions in the United States.The volume focuses on issues such as risk, administrative expense, and the role of tax allowances in encouraging personal pension provision. Based on the evidence from these countries it is concluded that expectations relating to the take up of personal pensions have not been met and that EU countries should not rely on personal pensions to improve income adequacy at the lower end of the income distribution.Academics and researchers teaching and studying employee benefits and pension costs - particularly in countries that have recently reformed their pension systems - will warmly welcome this book. Government bodies involved in pension reform and European Commission institutions concerned with the evolution and problems with pension policy within the EU will also find this book an informative and invaluable read.Trade Review'This book provides valuable information on investment retirement accounts established in Western European countries.' -- Howard Iams, Journal of Pension Economics and Finance'This excellent study of the different ways countries are making use of personal pensions demonstrates how important it is to analyse these developments within the context of existing pension systems. It pursues searching questions about the extent to which personal pensions are likely to succeed in enlarging choice, promoting better support in retirement and reducing demand on public provision. The answers pose awkward challenges for policymakers.' -- Adrian Sinfield, The University of Edinburgh, UKTable of ContentsContents: 1. Overview and Summary of Key Issues Jim Stewart and Gerard Hughes PART I: INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES’ EXPERIENCE 2. Pension Reform and Personal Provision of Retirement Income in France Lucy apRoberts and Pierre Concialdi 3. The Development of Private Pension Pillars in Italy: An Assessment of Recent Reforms Felice Roberto Pizzuti and Michele Raitano 4. Personal Provision of Retirement Income in Germany Heinz-Dietrich Steinmeyer 5. Demographic Ageing in Sweden: The Role of Defined Contribution Schemes Ann-Charlotte Ståhlberg 6. A Nation of Risk Lovers: Personal Provision of Retirement Income in Denmark Finn Ostrup 7. Personal Provision of Retirement Income in the UK Barbara Waine 8. Personal Provision of Retirement Income in Poland Marek Szczepański PART II: PUBLIC POLICY AND PRIVATE PROVISION 9. The Matthew Effect: Why Current Pension Policy Helps the Rich Get Richer Kim De Witte, Poul Roels and Yves Stevens 10. Conflicting Objectives in Personal Pension Provision and Personal Saving in Ireland Gerard Hughes and Jim Stewart PART III: OTHER ISSUES WITH INDIVIDUAL PENSIONS PROVISION 11. The Annuity Market and Personal Pensions John Turner 12. Regulation and Personal Pensions Dana Muir 13. Talking About Pensions: An Analysis of Language Used to Discuss Pensions Bryn Davies Index

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Book SynopsisQuantitative finance has become these last years a extraordinary field of research and interest as well from an academic point of view as for practical applications. At the same time, pension issue is clearly a major economical and financial topic for the next decades in the context of the well-known longevity risk. Surprisingly few books are devoted to application of modern stochastic calculus to pension analysis. The aim of this book is to fill this gap and to show how recent methods of stochastic finance can be useful for to the risk management of pension funds. Methods of optimal control will be especially developed and applied to fundamental problems such as the optimal asset allocation of the fund or the cost spreading of a pension scheme. In these various problems, financial as well as demographic risks will be addressed and modelled.Table of ContentsPreface xiii Chapter 1. Introduction: Pensions in Perspective 1 1.1. Pension issues 1 1.2. Pension scheme 7 1.3. Pension and risks 11 1.4. The multi-pillar philosophy 14 Chapter 2. Classical Actuarial Theory of Pension Funding 15 2.1. General equilibrium equation of a pension scheme 15 2.2. General principles of funding mechanisms for DB Schemes 21 2.3. Particular funding methods 22 Chapter 3. Deterministic and Stochastic Optimal Control 31 3.1. Introduction 31 3.2. Deterministic optimal control 31 3.3. Necessary conditions for optimality 33 3.4. The maximum principle 42 3.5. Extension to the one-dimensional stochastic optimal control 45 3.6. Examples 52 Chapter 4. Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Pension Plans 55 4.1. Introduction 55 4.2. The defined benefit method 56 4.3. The defined contribution method 57 4.4. The notional defined contribution (NDC) method 58 4.5. Conclusions 93 Chapter 5. Fair and Market Values and Interest Rate Stochastic Models 95 5.1. Fair value 95 5.2. Market value of financial flows 96 5.3. Yield curve 97 5.4. Yield to maturity for a financial investment and for a bond 99 5.5. Dynamic deterministic continuous time model for an instantaneous interest rate 100 5.6. Stochastic continuous time dynamic model for an instantaneous interest rate 104 5.7. Zero-coupon pricing under the assumption of no arbitrage 114 5.8. Market evaluation of financial flows 130 5.9. Stochastic continuous time dynamic model for asset values 132 5.10. VaR of one asset 136 Chapter 6. Risk Modeling and Solvency for Pension Funds 149 6.1. Introduction 149 6.2. Risks in defined contribution 149 6.3. Solvency modeling for a DC pension scheme 150 6.4. Risks in defined benefit 170 6.5. Solvency modeling for a DB pension scheme 171 Chapter 7. Optimal Control of a Defined Benefit Pension Scheme 181 7.1. Introduction 181 7.2. A first discrete time approach: stochastic amortization strategy 181 7.3. Optimal control of a pension fund in continuous time 194 Chapter 8. Optimal Control of a Defined Contribution Pension Scheme 207 8.1. Introduction 207 8.2. Stochastic optimal control of annuity contracts 208 8.3. Stochastic optimal control of DC schemes with guarantees and under stochastic interest rates 223 Chapter 9. Simulation Models 231 9.1. Introduction231 9.2. The direct method 233 9.3. The Monte Carlo models 250 9.4. Salary lines construction 252 Chapter 10. Discrete Time Semi-Markov Processes (SMP) and Reward SMP 277 10.1. Discrete time semi-Markov processes 277 10.2. DTSMP numerical solutions 280 10.3. Solution of DTHSMP and DTNHSMP in the transient case: a transportation example 284 10.4. Discrete time reward processes 294 10.5. General algorithms for DTSMRWP 304 Chapter 11. Generalized Semi-Markov Non-homogeneous Models for Pension Funds and Manpower Management 307 11.1. Application to pension funds evolution 307 11.2. Generalized non-homogeneous semi-Markov model for manpower management 338 11.3. Algorithms 347 APPENDICES 359 Appendix 1. Basic Probabilistic Tools for Stochastic Modeling 361 Appendix 2. Itô Calculus and Diffusion Processes 397 Bibliography 437 Index 449

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Book SynopsisHow to deliver adequate pension benefits at reasonable costs is a huge challenge confronting our ageing societies. This book delivers a comprehensive overview of the latest insights into pension finance, pension system design, pension governance and risk based supervision. It combines state-of-the-art analyses with innovative policy proposals to increase the efficiency and resilience of pension systems and to advance these systems' contribution to global financial stability. Renowned pension experts offer cutting-edge guidance for future decision making and the development of best practices. This exciting exploration of the frontiers in pension finance highlights key aspects of securing long term retirement provisions.Frontiers in Pension Finance will be of interest to a wide-ranging audience, especially academic researchers, pension practitioners, supervisors and public sector policymakers.Trade Review'In this fresh and valuable volume, experts from across the world provide guidance on pension design, risk management, and governance that is urgently needed in this rapidly changing pension environment. Aging populations are putting pressure on pay-as-you-go pension systems and spurring a shift to prefunded plans. Greater prefunding requires efficient risk management and judicious regulation and supervision. This book provides state-of-the-art analyses of these issues and should be required reading for scholars, practitioners, and anyone interested in the future of pensions.' -- Alicia H. Munnell, Boston College, Carroll School of Management and Center for Retirement Research, USTable of ContentsContents: Preface Nout Wellink 1. An Introduction to Frontiers in Pension Finance Dirk Broeders, Sylvester Eijffinger and Aerdt Houben 2. Are Market Values Fair? Jon Exley Discussion by Peter Schotman 3. The Intersection of Pensions and Enterprise Risk Management Jeremy Gold Discussion by Theo Nijman 4. The Victory of Hope Over Angst? Funding, Asset Allocation and Risk Taking in German Public Sector Pension Reform Raimond Maurer, Olivia Mitchell and Ralph Rogalla Discussion by Tom Steenkamp, Roy Hoevenaars and Roderick Molenaar 5. Labour Productivity in an Aging Society Axel Börsch-Supan, Ismail Düzgün and Matthias Weiss Discussion by Klaas Knot 6. It is all Back to Front: Critical Issues in the Design of Defined Contribution Pension Plans David Blake Discussion by Solange Berstein 7. Risk-based Supervision of Pension Funds: A Review of International Experience and Preliminary Assessment of the First Outcomes Gregory Brunner, Richard Hinz and Roberto Rocha Discussion by Coen N. Teulings 8. The Ideal Pension-Delivery Organization: Theory and Practice Keith Ambachtsheer Discussion by Ambrogio Rinaldi 9. Pension Guarantees, Capital Adequacy and International Risk Sharing Zvi Bodie Discussion by Kees Koedijk 10. Frontiers in Pension Finance and Reform: Institutional Innovation in the Netherlands Lans Bovenberg Discussion by Ross Jones 11. Population Aging, Financial Markets and Monetary Policy Lucas Papademos 12. Panel Discussions Dirk Witteveen, John Ashcroft, Henrik Bjerre-Nielsen and Lans Bovenberg Index

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Book SynopsisThis topical and timely analysis of late career and retirement within nine European societies and the USA examines how social inequality structures have developed in an era of globalization and aging populations. For several decades, many European societies relied on pushing and luring older workers out of employment by using generous early retirement programs in order to relieve national labor markets in times of globalization. However, as this book argues, one of the major challenges facing European and Northern American societies today is their severe demographic aging, which in turn places pension systems under substantial pressure due to the rising imbalance between those claiming pensions and those contributing to the pension system. Indeed, it is observed herein that in the recent past, governments have tried to increase the labor market attachment of older employees by retrenching early retirement benefits. This study investigates how these developments have impacted on the situation of older workers and retirees in nine European societies and the USA. In particular, the book looks at how social inequalities in later life have developed in the light of recent pension reforms.This informative book will appeal to sociologists, demographers, political scientists and economists interested in many different aspects of research including: international comparative research, globalization, labor market, welfare state, social inequality and research on aging. Researchers in the field of retirement and globalization studies will also find this book helpful, as will academics in labor market research and comparative political studies.Trade Review'Welfare states react to globalization and adapt to aging populations by reducing early retirement pathways and public benefits. How have these changes affected the transition to and income situation during retirement? To investigate this crucial question, this eminent international team conducted sophisticated micro-level analyses of retirement patterns and old age inequality across Europe and the USA. For anyone wishing to understand the significant cross-national differences that determine employment precariousness and social inequality in old age, this book is a must-read.' --Bernhard Ebbinghaus, University of Mannheim, Germany'This timely and important book describes changes over time in employment at older ages, the timing of retirement, and pension income and how these changes correspond with historical demographic, economic, and policy changes. What is especially valuable is that this book gives readers insight into how these dynamics are playing out around the world in countries such as Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.' --Barbara Butrica, Journal of Pensions Economics and FinanceTable of ContentsContents: Preface Foreword Martin Kohli PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Aging Populations, Globalization and the Labor Market: Comparing Late Working Life and Retirement in Modern Societies Sandra Buchholz, Annika Rinklake, Julia Schilling, Karin Kurz, Paul Schmelzer and Hans-Peter Blossfeld PART II: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS 2. Increasing Inequalities in Germany: Older People’s Employment Lives and Income Conditions Since the Mid-1980s Annika Rinklake and Sandra Buchholz 3. Late Career Instability and the Transition into Retirement of Older Workers in the Netherlands Maurice Gesthuizen and Maarten H.J. Wolbers 4. Retirement in Italy: Rising Social Inequalities Across Generations Paolo Barbieri and Stefani Scherer 5. Pathways from Work to Retirement and Old Age Inequality in Spain Jonas Radl and Fabrizio Bernardi 6. How ‘Flexicure’ are Older Danes? The Development of Social Inequality in Later Life Since the 1980s Julia Schilling and Mona Larsen 7. Social Inequality in the Late Career and Old Age Income between 1981 and 2007: The Case of the Swedish Welfare State Gabriella Sjögren Lindquist 8. Late Careers in Hungary: Coping with the Transformation from a Socialist to a Market Economy Alberto Veira-Ramos and Erzsébet Bukodi 9. Increasing Social Inequality in Later Life Since the 1980s in Estonia Kadri Täht, Ellu Saar and Marge Unt 10. Income Development of Older People: Consequences of Pension Reforms and Unstable Careers in the UK Paul Schmelzer 11. Late Employment Careers, Transitions to Retirement and Retirement Income in the United States Angela M. O’Rand and Jenifer Hamil-Luker PART III: CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION 12. Comparing Late Working Life and Retirement in Europe and the US: The Development of Social Inequalities in Times of Globalization and Aging Societies Karin Kurz, Sandra Buchholz, Alberto Veira-Ramos, Annika Rinklake and Hans-Peter Blossfeld Index

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Book SynopsisThe economic demands of an ageing population, coupled with the crisis of public spending pose one of the greatest challenges to social policy in both the East and West. This book focuses on the political economy of pensions, particularly on the interaction between private and state provision. Enterprise and the Welfare State argues that there is more to welfare than simply provision by the state and so the focus of this book is on the welfare society rather than the welfare state. This requires a new system of statistical accounting and a different focus for case studies. A multidisciplinary approach is used to examine the design of the pensions system in nine countries with different institutional welfare mixes. Using a common conceptual framework, it compares and contrasts the goals and realities of the welfare systems in France, Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden, where strong occupational pensions are in operation, with the more modest welfare states in Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each country case study provides a grounded analysis of the evolution of pension design and traces the impact of the policies on the economic well-being of the aged and the performance of the economy. It offers new data on the level of spending of enterprise based occupational pensions and examines the implications for redistribution resulting from changes in the design of state and occupational pensions. This book will be essential reading for academics, students and public policymakers interested in the economics of welfare, social policy and the future of pension provision.Trade Review'. . . anyone who wants to be an expert in this field should read this book. There is nothing to be criticized in either the research or the presentation by the authors. Indeed, the chapters are well written. . . . Altogether I can enthusiastically recommend this book for people in this field. It is well written, comprehensive, and the result of much work.'Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. The Emerging Role of Enterprise in Social Policy (M. Rein and E. Wadensjö) 2. The Austrian Pension System (P. Rosner, T. Url and A. Wörgötter) 3. France: A National and Contractual Second Tier (E. Reynaud) 4. The Public-Private Mix in Pension Provision in Germany: The Role of Employer-based Pension Arrangements and the Influence of Public Activities (W. Schmähl) 5. The Retirement Provision Mix in Italy: The Dominant Role of the Public System (R. Di Biase, A. Gandiglio, M. Cozzolino and G. Proto) 6. The Role of the Japanese Company in Compensating Income Loss after Retirement (Y. Kimura) 7. The Netherlands: Growing Importance of Private Sector Arrangements (M. Blomsa and R. Jansweijer) 8. The Welfare Mix in Pension Provisions in Sweden (E. Wadensjö) 9. The British Case (T. Lynes) 10. Enterprise and the State: Interactions in the Provision of Employees’ Retirement Income in the United States (L. apRoberts and J. Turner) Index

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Book SynopsisThe transition from central planning in Central and Eastern Europe has resulted in a decline in social security. Transformation of Pension Systems in Central and Eastern Europe provides an in-depth examination of systems of social protection for the elderly.The authors begin by analysing the urgent measures required to respond to a changing economic system. They also consider the fundamental questions of redesigning old-age financial security which is embedded in an international debate on pension reform, taking into account the political and economic factors from a comparative perspective. Covering the Baltic states, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics and Hungary, the development of pension security is traced from the late 1980s to the end of the 1990s. Using local pension experts with academic and administrative backgrounds, the country studies are characterized by a detailed and interdisciplinary perspective, and provide an economic, political, legal and institutional approach to pension systems development.Trade Review'This book takes a detailed look at changes in the pension systems of central and East European countries.' -- European Library'Given the highly specialised subject matter, which so easily degenerates into rather tedious calculations, this book is really amazingly interesting and competently executed.' -- The late Mark Blaug, formerly of the University of London and University of Buckingham, UKTable of ContentsContents: Preface Part I: Transformation of Pension Schemes in Comparative Perspective 1. Introduction: Design of the Analysis, its Methodological Approach and Basic Decisions in Designing Pension Schemes 2. Economic, Demographic and Institutional Background 3. The Development of Pension Systems 4. Explaining Reforms Part II: Country Reports 5. Transformation of Old-Age Security in Estonia 6. Transformation of Old-Age Security in Latvia 7. Transformation of Old-Age Security in Lithuania 8. Transformation of Old-Age Security in Poland 9. Transformation of Old-Age Security in the Czech Republic 10. Transformation of Old-Age Security in the Slovak Republic 11. Transformation of Old-Age Security in Hungary Index

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Book SynopsisPopulation ageing is an important trend which will be experienced in industrialized countries in the early years of the next century. This significant book examines aspects of population ageing and pensions, with an emphasis on the design and use of simple economic models to focus on particular aspects of a very broad problem. The analysis of pensions presents many complex problems. A major aim of this book is to demonstrate how reasonably simple economic models can be designed and used to shed some light on the issues involved in population growth and pension provision. The basic analytics of population growth and pension structure are first explored. Projections for Australia are examined and used to model ageing and social expenditure and to estimate the 'burden' of aged care on future workers. The author goes on to investigate pensions and pension finance, and examines several types of economic model before turning to the analysis of alternative pension arrangements using a lifetime simulation model. The results of the study suggest that both lower contribution rates and a universal pension encourage a later retirement age.This book will prove invaluable to students and scholars of public sector economics, welfare economics, social economics and public finance.Trade Review'This book might have been published ten years ago, but we are reviewing it in this edition because it is even more relevant now than it was then. . . Given the importance of pensions in relation to social welfare, employment incentives, savings incentives, tax rates, and much else, it really is essential that the work of the Pensions Commission continues, and equally essential that this book is on its members' reading list.' -- Citizen's Income'. . . the book adds considerable value in providing simple economic models and numerical examples to illuminate the complexities of pensions and population ageing.' -- John Piggott, Australasian Journal on AgeingTable of ContentsContents: Part I: Introduction 1. Introduction and Outline Part II: Ageing and Social Expenditure 2. Population Ageing and Social Expenditure 3. Social Expenditure Projections 4. Migration and Population Ageing Part III: Economic Models and Pensions 5. Policy Trade-offs and Pension Systems 6. Private versus Public Pensions 7. Pensions and Contracting Out 8. Two-tier State Pensions 9. Pensions and Compensating Variations Part IV: Lifetime Simulations 10. Alternative Pension Systems 11. Modelling Retirement Decisions 12. The Choice of Early Retirement Age Index

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Book SynopsisThis book is about retirement income security. This income security is provided by national public pensions, corporate pensions, and individual and reverse mortgages. However, these systems vary greatly from country to country and, in many countries, do not provide sufficient coverage. Ensuring income security in old age is an important issue that must be resolved in the rapidly aging environment of the world.From the perspective of financial consumers, this book cross-sectionally surveys public pensions, corporate pensions, individual pensions and reverse mortgages and compares them among many important nations. This gives many implications from the perspective of designing an overall income security for each individual. In addition, it presents many of the issues needed for these sustainable and comprehensive income security.Table of ContentsPART I: INTRODUCTION Ch. 1. The National Pension Systems and Financial Consumers: An international comparative perspective on the key linkagesPART II: COUNTRY CHAPTERSCountries with pension systems at a mature stage Ch. 2 - Retirement Income Security in the United States:An Overview of the Public and Private Retirement SystemCh. 3 Retirement Income Security in the Japan: An Overview of the Public and Private Pension System Ch. 4: The Italian Pension System Ch. 5: The Polish Pension System Ch. 6: The Swiss Pension System Countries in the establishment phase of the pension system Ch. 7: The Korean Pension System Ch. 8 - Preparing for Rainy Days at the Old Age in Singapore – Ch. 9: The Chinese Pension System Countries in the Institutional Entry Phase Ch.10: The Bangladesh Pension System Ch. 11: The Indonesian Pension System Ch. 12 - Vietnam’s Pension system in the context of aging population PART III: SPECIAL TOPICS Ch. 13: Role of the Private Pension Programs Ch. 14 - THE U.S. PENSIONS AND TAXATION Ch. 15: Home Equity Monetization Schemes: An Inter-Country Survey

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