May 2021

Population and Labor Dynamics in Large Informal Markets: Implications for Pension Systems with Evidence from Ecuador

By Margarita Velín-Fárez This paper reviews Ecuador’s population structure and labor market dynamics with a focus on the causes of inequality, particularly among older adults receiving contributory pensions. This serves as a basis for characterizing the main restrictions that the Ecuadorian pension system must address. This analysis is valuable for three key reasons. First, the population structure of many less developed countries is converging toward that of developed countries, with older age groups increasing in proportion. Second, Ecuador is among...

April 2021

India. National Pension System: PFRDA to extend entry age to avail benefits

Senior citizens who have not yet got into the National Pension System (NPS) bandwagon may have some cause for cheer. Pension regulator PFRDA plans to soon extend the maximum entry age for availing NPS benefit to 70 years from the current 65 years, its Chairman Supratim Bandyopadhyay said on Thursday. Read also EU insurance regulator cracks down on unit-linked policy costs Simultaneously, the exit age limit is proposed to be extended from 70 years to 75 years, he said at a...

Financial Inclusion in Malaysia Distilling Lessons for Other Countries

By World Bank Group The World Bank Group’s current partnership with Malaysia is focused on knowledge-sharing. It is centered on support for Malaysia’s vision to join the ranks of high-income economies by 2020 through inclusive and sustainable growth, and to share its lessons with developing countries. In March 2016, the World Bank Group officially launched its Global Knowledge and Research Hub in Malaysia. The new Hub is the first of its kind, serving both as a field presence in Malaysia and...

Evaluation of Four Decades of Pension Privatization in Latin America, 1980-2020: Promises and Reality

By Carmelo Mesa-Lago The author of this book has published other 40 on social security since 1968, dealing with pensions, health care, and social assistance, in seven languages and in 34 countries. His new book is a product of many works in the last 30 years, which have been integrated, updated, and expanded under a new methodological framework. The book thoroughly documents the effects of the privatization of pensions in nine countries in Latin America from 1980 until the present:...

March 2021

A Guide to the Treatment of Pensions on Divorce

By Pension Advisory Group The publication of this final report from the Pension Advisory Group is an important and very welcome event. The importance of the work is demonstrated by the fact that a good many busy and experienced practitioners have given up valuable time over the course of the past two years to produce this definitive guidance on the approach to the issue of pensions in Financial Remedy cases before the Family Court. For too long the division of...

The PEPP Contribution to the Capital Markets Union (CMU)

By Jorik van Zanden, Hans van Meerten, Andrea Minto The EU has several ‘pension problems, for example ageing, poor portability and the lack of consumer protection. Furthermore, the EU internal market for pensions is not sufficiently developed. This not only prevents, for example, a cost-efficient pension build-up of an employee working abroad, but the differences among national rule also restrict a local pension participant in choosing a pension fund established abroad. All these problems have been recently pointed out in the...

Pensions after the financial and economic crisis: a comparative analysis of recent reforms in Europe

By David Natali This paper sheds light on the initial impact of the economic and financial crisis on pensions policy across Europe, and assesses the first measures proposed and/or introduced in four EU countries. The author argues that while the impact on different pension models naturally varies, some common trends can be identified: short-term measures to grant additional protection for the elderly at risk of poverty, raising of the statutory retirement age, incentives for active ageing. The role of private...

Joint Report on Pensions Progress and key challenges in the delivery of adequate and sustainable pensions in Europe

By the Economic Policy Committee (Ageing Working Group), the Social Protection Committee (Indicators Sub-Group) and the Commission services (DG for Economic and Financial Affairs and DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities) Ensuring that public policies cater for sustainable, accessible and adequate retirement incomes now and in the future remains a priority for the EU. While Member States share similar fundamental challenges there are considerable differences in the timing of demographic ageing, the design of pension arrangements, the growth potential...

Financial wellness can foster pension system in China

By Daisy Ho China faces mounting pension and retirement challenges, but it's not without silver linings. It's well known that China's huge and rapidly aging population will grapple with a shortage of pension coverage that looks set to worsen over the next few years. There is no quick fix for state pensions falling short of growing retirement needs, but policymakers see promoting private retirement saving schemes as a key means of filling the gap. Here, we see some encouraging signs, especially when...

February 2021

Opportunities for extending social security coverage in Jordan

By ILO The report aims to support Jordanian policymakers in the extension of social security to informal workers. It formulates typologies for informal workers outside the social security system, analyses the main constraints to coverage and outlines a range of policy approaches for the extension of coverage. The Jordanian government has been working to expand social security coverage of its workforce. In the context of the National Social Protection Strategy, the Cabinet has committed to developing an action plan to reduce...