February 2022

UK. 21 million savers tempted by green pension options amid increasing awareness

Awareness of the link between pensions and climate change has grown by around 85 per cent in the past year, analysis from Make My Money Matter (MMMM) has revealed, with an increasing number of savers tempted by green pension options as a result. Research from the group revealed that 51 per cent of savers, representing around 21 million individuals, would choose a green pension if offered one by their provider, up from 44 per cent in 2021, a "substantial" increase...

U.S. public pension funds may turn to more ‘aggressive’ investment, report says

U.S. public pension funds will likely have to switch to more aggressive investment strategies in the coming years to fill funding gaps despite assets held by sovereign investors having grown to record levels amid the 2021 equity market boom, a new report said. On average, the difference between assets and liabilities at U.S. public pension funds, known as the "funded ratio," remains "unsatisfactory" at less than 75%, sovereign investor specialist Global SWF said in a report. To boost returns, many will...

​Virus has created different economic system, says Finnish pensions chief

The chief executive officer of the State Pension Fund of Finland (Valtion Eläkerahasto, VER), said the economic conditions brought about by the pandemic will stay with us, and with digitalisation and medicine as the key drivers of this new system, that is where governments need to allocate resources. Timo Löyttyniemi, CEO of VER, the €22.9bn fund which balances central government’s staff pension spending, said in a blog: “COVID has given birth to a different economic system where only change is...

Turkey’s retirees suffer inflation pain despite pension hike

With soaring inflation in Turkey that has hit all walks of life, the pain of high cost of living is probably felt most by the country's old-age pensioners, despite the promises by the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to "crush the people under exorbitant prices." "I buy fruits and vegetables at closure time in the neighborhood market because of the cheaper price as sellers want to clear their shelves at the end of the day," Faruk Ekmen, a...

Swedish Centre-Left Govt Proposes Raising Pensions in $1 Billion Reform

Sweden's centre-left government said on Monday it would propose raising pensions for the elderly with the lowest incomes in a reform that will cost 9.4 billion crowns ($1.00 billion) in 2023. The Social Democrat minority government agreed with the Green and the Left parties to raise pensions by up to 1,000 crowns tax free per month for the half a million pensioners with the lowest incomes, the parties told a joint news conference. "Nearly every other pensioner is covered by the...

UK. DWP publishes draft dashboard regulations

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a consultation on the draft pensions dashboards regulations. The consultation seeks views on the draft regulations which make provision for requirements to be met by pension dashboard services or the providers of these services, and by trustees or managers of relevant UK occupational pension schemes. Read also UK. Prudential reports itself to regulator over AVC failings The regulations - which the DWP said will apply to all registrable UK-based occupational pension schemes with...

México. Avanza cultura de jubilación y ahorro con las Afores

México. Avanza cultura de jubilación y ahorro con las Afores

Las Administradoras de Fondos para el Retiro (Afores) están por cumplir 25 años de nacidas y los mexicanos empiezan a comprender su funcionamiento y aplicar acciones para poder sacarles mejor provecho. Pese a la crisis económica y laboral que se ha presentado durante los últimos dos años a causa de la pandemia, los mexicanos están haciendo un esfuerzo por vigilar y aportar con ahorro voluntario al incremento de sus montos. “En 2021 el ahorro fue muy importante de hasta 16 por...

Las AFP en Chile: la reforma urgente que enfrenta Gabriel Boric

Las AFP en Chile: la reforma urgente que enfrenta Gabriel Boric

La creación de un nuevo sistema previsional en el país sudamericano podría servir de guía para las naciones vecinas que también adoptaron el ahorro de capitalización individual para las pensiones de sus trabajadores. Las protestas en las calles, el llamado estallido social (2019) y, finalmente, la realidad de unas jubilaciones muy por debajo de lo esperado, han hecho que la reforma del sistema de pensiones en Chile sea uno de los pilares fundamentales que deberá impulsar el próximo gobierno de...

January 2022

China rolling out perks to encourage couples to have 3rd child amid demographic crisis

Amidst a demographic crisis (/topic/demographic-crisis), China is happily rolling out a slew of supportive measures to encourage couples to have a third child. Fabien Baussart, President of CPFA (Center of Political and Foreign Affairs), in a blog post in The Times of Israel said that the new sets of incentives include perks such as baby bonuses, extended paid leaves, tax cuts and childbearing subsidies, among others. The Chinese authorities are pushing organizations and local administrations to offer handsome douceur to the...

UK. Millions of people miss out on pension cash due to strict rules

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association found that 47 percent of working individuals cannot afford to save for retirement. The current workplace pension criteria leaves young workers and low income earners “absolutely” forgotten about. The effects of the pandemic are starting to slam savers pockets, and with the gradual return to normality whilst inflation skyrockets will likely mean paycheques won’t go as far as they used to. Additionally, NOW: Pensions shared that the total number of people missing out on workplace...