Pension Reform in Hungary

Pension Reform in Hungary PDF Author: Roberto Rezende Rocha
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN:
Category : Pensions
Languages : en
Pages : 38

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Book Description
Hungary is entering the fourth year of a multi-pillar pension reform that has proved popular among workers despite initially lukewarm support from the government that succeeded the reforming government, and despite the poor initial performance of capital markets because of Russia's crisis in 1998. Roughly half the labor force joined the new system voluntarily. Most who switched were younger than 40. Many people switched to the system because it offered more risk diversification. The pay-as-you-go (PAYG) system, which had been severely damaged by repeated manipulation of its parameters, clearly offered a low return on contributions. The new system is still predominantly PAYG. The first pillar accounts for more than two-thirds of the total contribution, but the new second pillar offers the chance of higher average returns on contributions. Most workers probably intuited the risk and returns inherent in a pure PAYG system and mixed system, including the capital market risk in the second pillar and the political risk in the PAYG pillar. The new system offers better prospects of long-run risk-adjustment returns for young workers, and most young workers effectively opted for the new system. But the new system was probably oversold as well, making older workers - who would be better off staying in the reformed PAYG system - switch too. The government has so far decided not to increase the contribution to the second pillar from 6 to 8 percent, as originally planned, so efficiency gains in labor and capital markets may also be smaller than expected. Addressing projected deficits in the PAYG system may require further adjustments, such as delaying the retirement age and shifting to indexed prices, reducing net benefits to future generations. Reform has sharply reduced the severe initial bias against future generation but hasn't eliminated it altogether. The voluntary switching strategy achieves the same outcome as a forced switch based on an arbitrarily cutoff age, while preventing legal problems and contributing to the reduction of the implicit pension debt. But it leaves a few individuals worse of the if they'd chosen their best option - a problem a well-designed public information campaign can reduce.

Pension Reform in Hungary

Pension Reform in Hungary PDF Author: Roberto Rezende Rocha
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN:
Category : Pensions
Languages : en
Pages : 38

Get Book Here

Book Description
Hungary is entering the fourth year of a multi-pillar pension reform that has proved popular among workers despite initially lukewarm support from the government that succeeded the reforming government, and despite the poor initial performance of capital markets because of Russia's crisis in 1998. Roughly half the labor force joined the new system voluntarily. Most who switched were younger than 40. Many people switched to the system because it offered more risk diversification. The pay-as-you-go (PAYG) system, which had been severely damaged by repeated manipulation of its parameters, clearly offered a low return on contributions. The new system is still predominantly PAYG. The first pillar accounts for more than two-thirds of the total contribution, but the new second pillar offers the chance of higher average returns on contributions. Most workers probably intuited the risk and returns inherent in a pure PAYG system and mixed system, including the capital market risk in the second pillar and the political risk in the PAYG pillar. The new system offers better prospects of long-run risk-adjustment returns for young workers, and most young workers effectively opted for the new system. But the new system was probably oversold as well, making older workers - who would be better off staying in the reformed PAYG system - switch too. The government has so far decided not to increase the contribution to the second pillar from 6 to 8 percent, as originally planned, so efficiency gains in labor and capital markets may also be smaller than expected. Addressing projected deficits in the PAYG system may require further adjustments, such as delaying the retirement age and shifting to indexed prices, reducing net benefits to future generations. Reform has sharply reduced the severe initial bias against future generation but hasn't eliminated it altogether. The voluntary switching strategy achieves the same outcome as a forced switch based on an arbitrarily cutoff age, while preventing legal problems and contributing to the reduction of the implicit pension debt. But it leaves a few individuals worse of the if they'd chosen their best option - a problem a well-designed public information campaign can reduce.

Social Security Pension Reform in Europe

Social Security Pension Reform in Europe PDF Author: Martin Feldstein
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226241081
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 514

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Book Description
Social Security in the United States and in Europe is at a critical juncture. Through the essays assembled in Social Security Pension Reform in Europe, Martin Feldstein and Horst Siebert, along with a number of distinguished contributors, discuss the challenges facing Social Security reform in the aging societies of Europe. A remarkable range of European nations—Germany, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Hungary—have implemented or are about to implement mixed Social Security systems that combine a traditional defined benefit of the pay-as-you-go system with an individual retirement account defined contribution of a capital-funded system. The essays here highlight the problems that the European pension reform process faces and how it differs from that of the United States. This timely volume will significantly enrich the debate on pension reform worldwide.

The Challenge of Public Pension Reform in Advanced and Emerging Economies

The Challenge of Public Pension Reform in Advanced and Emerging Economies PDF Author: Mr.Benedict J. Clements
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 147556631X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 86

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Book Description
Pension reform is high on the policy agenda of many advanced and emerging market economies. In advanced economies the challenge is generally to contain future increases in public pension spending as the population ages. In emerging market economies, the challenges are often different. Where pension coverage is extensive, the issues are similar to those in advanced economies. Where pension coverage is low, the key challenge will be to expand coverage in a fiscally sustainable manner. This volume examines the outlook for public pension spending over the coming decades and the options for reform in 52 advanced and emerging market economies.

Assessing Chile's Pension System: Challenges and Reform Options

Assessing Chile's Pension System: Challenges and Reform Options PDF Author: Samuel Pienknagura
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 151359611X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 52

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Book Description
Chile’s pension system came under close scrutiny in recent years. This paper takes stock of the adequacy of the system and highlights its challenges. Chile’s defined contribution system was quite influential when introduced, and was taken as an example by other countries. However, it is now delivering low replacement rates relative to OECD peers, as its parameters did not adapt over time to changing demographics and global returns, while informality persists in the labor market. In the absence of reforms, the system’s inability to deliver adequate outcomes for a large share of participants will continue to magnify, as demographic trends and low global interest rates will continue to reduce replacement rates. In addition, recent legislation allowing for pension savings withdrawals to counter the effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, is projected to further reduce replacement rates and increase fiscal costs. A substantial improvement in replacement rates is feasible, via a reform that raises contribution rates and the retirement age, coupled with policies that increases workers’ contribution density.

Reforming the Greek Pension System

Reforming the Greek Pension System PDF Author: Mr. Alvar Kangur
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513588842
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 26

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Book Description
The Greek pension system has been costly, complex, and distortive, which has contributed to Greece’s fiscal problems and discouraged labor force participation. Several attempts to reform the system faltered due to lack of implementation, pushback by vested interests, and court rulings leading to reversals. A series of reforms introduced throughout 2015–17 unified benefit and contribution rules, removed several distortions and reduced fragmentation and costs. If fully implemented throughout the long-term, these reforms can go a long way towards enhancing the pension system affordability. However, reforms faced setbacks and fell short of creating stronger incentives to build long contribution histories, to deliver sustainable growth by improving the fiscal policy mix, and to ensure fairness and equitable burden sharing across generations and interest groups. Policy priorities should aim towards fully implementing the 2015–17 reforms and complementing them with additional reforms to address these remaining objectives.

Equitable and Sustainable Pensions

Equitable and Sustainable Pensions PDF Author: Mr.Benedict J. Clements
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1616359501
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 432

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Book Description
Pension reform is high on the agenda of many advanced and emerging market economies, for many reasons. First, public pensions often constitute a large share of government expenditure. Second, population aging means that reforms would be needed just to keep pension spending from rising in the future. Third, in many economies, low or falling pension coverage will leave large segments of the population without adequate income in old age and at risk of falling into poverty. Although a number of studies have assessed the effects of pension reforms on fiscal sustainability, a systematic analysis of equity issues in pension systems—and how countries have grappled with these issues—has yet to be undertaken. This book brings together the latest research on equity issues related to pension systems and pension reforms in the post-crisis world. Some of the key issues covered include: the effect of pension systems on intergenerational equity and the impact of pension reforms on poverty, the effects of pension reform measures on fiscal sustainability and equity, and the fiscal consequences of achieving different equity goals. It also presents country case studies. The volume provides a rich menu of material to assist policymakers and academic audiences seeking to understand the latest research in this area, as well as the lessons and challenges for the design of reforms.

Pension Reform

Pension Reform PDF Author: Robert Holzmann
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 082136166X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 692

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Book Description
This book presents 25 state of the art papers on the conceptual foundations and issues surrounding Non-financial, or Notional, Defined Contribution (NDC), country implementation of NDC (Italy, Latvia, Poland, and Sweden) and case studies for countries where NDC is figured in the reform debate. This book is intended to be a handbook for academics and policy makers who want to become informed about what NDC is and to learn about the pros and cons of this attractive reform proposal.

Pensions at a Glance 2021 OECD and G20 Indicators

Pensions at a Glance 2021 OECD and G20 Indicators PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264641335
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
The 2021 edition of Pensions at a Glance highlights the pension reforms undertaken by OECD countries over the past two years. Moreover, the special chapter focuses on automatic adjustment mechanisms in pensions systems in OECD countries, discusses the usefulness and limitations of these policy instruments, and suggests ways to improve them in order to enhance the capacity of pension systems to fulfil their objectives.

Pensions at a Glance 2019 OECD and G20 Indicators

Pensions at a Glance 2019 OECD and G20 Indicators PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264876103
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
The 2019 edition of Pensions at a Glance highlights the pension reforms undertaken by OECD countries over the last two years. Moreover, two special chapters focus on non-standard work and pensions in OECD countries, take stock of different approaches to organising pensions for non-standard workers in the OECD, discuss why non-standard work raises pension issues and suggest how pension settings could be improved.

The Political Economy of Reform Lessons from Pensions, Product Markets and Labour Markets in Ten OECD Countries

The Political Economy of Reform Lessons from Pensions, Product Markets and Labour Markets in Ten OECD Countries PDF Author: Tompson William
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264073116
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 501

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Book Description
By looking at 20 reform efforts in ten OECD countries, this report examines why some reforms are implemented and other languish.