Superannuation in Australia: A Survey of the Literature
By Geoffrey Kingston (Macquarie University) & Susan Thorp (University of Sydney Business School; Financial Research Network (FIRN); Centre for International Finance and Regulation (CIFR))
In 2017 Australian superannuation assets stood at 148 per cent of GDP, or $2.5 trillion in absolute terms. This was the world’s fourth largest pool of retirement savings, a remarkable outcome over 25 years of the operation of the Superannuation Guarantee. We survey the local academic, industry and policy literature on the economics of superannuation during the last quarter of a century. Topics include the policy debate, the positive, normative and behavioural economics of household interaction with superannuation, and the structure, conduct and performance of the superannuation industry. We encourage further research into effective tax rates, the need to hedge human capital and the automation of financial advice.
Source: SSRN
