April 2020

08Apr

Economic Challenges of Pension Systems : A Sustainability and International Management Perspective

By Marta Peris-Ortiz, José Álvarez-García, Inmaculada Domínguez-Fabián, Pierre Devolder This book examines the major economic challenges associated with the sustainability of public pensions, specifically demographic change, labor-market relations, and risk sharing. The issue of public pensions occupies the political and economic agendas of many major governments in the world. International organizations such as the World Bank and the OECD warn that the economic changes driven by an aging society negatively affects the sustainability of pension systems. This book...

April 8, 2020
Books, Pension Management, System Sustainability,
Read more...
08Apr

Covid-19: Restrictions, Economic Losses And Incentives. European And Global Overview

By Virginia CÂMPEANU The viral epidemic COVID-19 started in December 2019 in a large city of China, Wuhan with a population of about 20 million, similar to that of Romania. The huge speed of virus spread inside China, then outside the borders has determined the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare on January 30, 2020, "Global emergency for public health" (pandemic). In mid-March, the epicentre of the epidemic moved from Asia to Europe, where the number of cases continues...

April 8, 2020
Articles, System Sustainability, , , ,
Read more...
08Apr

More Than 1 Billion Workers Face ‘Drastic’ Hit From Virus

The coronavirus outbreak is having a “deep, far-reaching and unprecedented” impact on employment, with more than 1 billion workers at high risk of a pay cut or losing their job, according to the International Labor Organization. With factories, schools and shops shuttered around the world, the Geneva-based body says lockdowns are affecting almost 2.7 billion workers. Within that, 1.25 billion are extremely vulnerable, mainly in hotels, food services, manufacturing and retail. Read also US. Some companies are cutting 401(k)...

April 8, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
08Apr

COVID 19: Emerging Investment Risks for Pension Schemes

Daily policy initiatives by governments across the world who are desperate to avoid the worst ravages of an economic recession are fuelling a lot of the volatility in public markets with which investors are now sadly familiar. However, many pension funds have significant private market exposures through alternative investments. Those holdings are not immune to government intervention and pension funds should note the sometimes unexpected effect of policy changes. The Pensions Regulator’s COVID 19 guidance on 27 March advised...

April 8, 2020
News, Slider, , , , ,
Read more...
07Apr

Cost and past performance 2020 report

By EIOPA The European Insurance and Occupations Pensions Authority (EIOPA), has today published its second report on cost and past performance of insurance-based investments products (IBIPs) and personal pension products (PPPs) in the European Union. The report is published following a request from the European Commission to the European Supervisory Authorities to periodically report on the costs and past performance of retail investment products. This report provides an analysis of costs for 2018 and past performance for the period...

April 7, 2020
Books, Regulation, Reports, Supervision, ,
Read more...
07Apr

Social protection responses to the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa

Poor and vulnerable South Africans, including domestic, farm, service sector, and self-employed workers as well as children from poor families, face a double shock. COVID-19 is a major health risk that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives worldwide and is starting to claim lives in South Africa. Social distancing and self-isolation are necessary to slow the spread of the virus, and the 21-day lockdown is designed to “flatten the curve”. But the lockdown itself has consequences that...

April 7, 2020
News, Slider, , , , ,
Read more...
07Apr

Irish Demand for Social Benefits Soars as Coronavirus Bites

The number of people in Ireland dependent on social welfare income support amidst the coronavirus outbreak has soared to more than 700,000 based on numbers released on Monday by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. On April 3, 507,000 people were paid the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support payment, which is a weekly stipend of 350 euros ($377.93) for those who have lost jobs or had hours cut due to coronavirus disruption. That was in addition to 207,000...

April 7, 2020
News, Slider, , , , ,
Read more...
07Apr

Freezing A Defined Benefit Plan To Reduce Current Year Contribution Obligation

Defined benefit pension plans, including cash balance plans, require a contribution each year, which is primarily used to fund the benefits which participants accrue (i.e., earn) during the plan year. The annual required contribution may also include an amount needed to make up a shortfall in a prior year in the investment return on plan assets. In most defined benefit pension plans, a participant earns a benefit for a plan year after working 1,000 or more hours during that...

April 7, 2020
News, Slider, , ,
Read more...
07Apr

German Digital Corporate Pension & Life Insurance Provider Xpension raises €25 Million Through Series C Investment Round Led By HPE Growth

Xpension, a German digital corporate pension and life insurance brand, announced on Monday it secured €25 million through its Series C funding round, led by HPE Growth with participation from Cinco Capital, led by Lars Hinrichs (Founder of XING and Chairman of Xpension), and Armada Investment. Founded in 2007, Xpension describes itself as an independent technology provider with shared-service solutions for occupational pension management and consultancy. The company currently has more than 120 staff members its Munich, Saarbrucken,...

April 7, 2020
News, Slider,
Read more...
06Apr

US. Underfunded public plans facing a new round of woes

The coronavirus has increased pressure on underfunded public pension plans that were already facing significant stress before the crisis. Not only have plans' investment portfolios taken double-digit losses as a result of the pandemic, but government plan sponsors will need to increase their contributions at a time when revenues are down and expenditures are up. Read also US. Some companies are cutting 401(k) matches because of the coronavirus "This has put a lot of strain and stress on pension deficits,...

April 6, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...