System sustainability Archives - Pension Policy International

14MarMarch 14, 2025

Public pensions reforms: financial and political sustainability

By Julián Díaz Saavedra One main reason for the unsustainability of future pensions in many European countries is a failure to adapt to very long-term demographic trends. Also, a reform to address financing issues can also be an occasion to improve pension design. Sometimes, however, such pension reforms are likely to be overturned when they lead to significant short-term losses in retirement income. We use an overlapping generations economy with incomplete insurance markets to show that, with an appropriate design,...

March 14, 2025

Articles, Regulation2025, Pension Reform, System sustainability

11MarMarch 11, 2025

Oman. Early retirement poses risk to pension fund sustainability: SPF CEO

Early retirement remains a major challenge to the sustainability of pension funds in Oman and the Gulf region, according to Dr Faisal bin Abdullah al Farsi, CEO of Social Protection Fund (SPF). He also said that extended provision of job security benefits is straining the fund’s reserves. Speaking at the inaugural session of Communication Dialogue, organised by Government Communication Centre, Farsi emphasised the need for reforms to ensure long-term financial stability. He noted that early retirement is a system unique...

March 11, 2025

News, SliderRetirement Age, System sustainability

24JanJanuary 24, 2025

Challenges Related to Aging Population

By Drishti The Vision Foundation The Supreme Court of India refused to entertain a writ petition that sought the establishment of a dedicated Ministry for senior citizens. The writ petition referred to senior citizens (population ageing) as a vulnerable class that deserves special attention under Article 21 of the Constitution, which ensures the right to a dignified life. Source Drishtiias

January 24, 2025

Aging, Articles2025, Aging, India, Labor Market, System sustainability

20JanJanuary 20, 2025

Pension crises ‘will start to bite’ over next decade, WEF risk report finds

Pension crises “will start to bite” over the next decade in super-ageing societies, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2025. Super-ageing societies feature as a key theme in this year’s edition, which is linked to risks such as inequality and societal polarisation. A super-ageing society is when over 20 per cent of a country’s population is over 65 years old. Several countries have already exceeded that mark, such as Japan, Italy and Germany. However, many more countries across...

January 20, 2025

News, SliderAging, System sustainability

22OctOctober 22, 2024

BlackRock’s Fink says U.S. needs to discuss retirement system issues, national debt

The two biggest issues facing the U.S. that don’t get discussed enough are the nation’s retirement system and mounting federal government debt, according to BlackRock Chair and CEO Larry Fink. Millions of Americans don’t have retirement savings and are frightened that they won’t be able to save enough to retire with dignity, Fink said Oct. 21 at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s annual meeting in New York. "We as a country refuse to talk about, 'Do we have the adequate...

October 22, 2024

Newssavings, System sustainability, US

22OctOctober 22, 2024

China state pension recoups losses, posts positive return in 2023

China’s national pension fund reversed its 2022 losses, achieving a 1% investment return in 2023 despite a domestic market downturn, thanks to a diversified portfolio. Though it ranked as the worst annual performer among state-owned investors globally, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) maintained robust long-term investment performance, with a 10-year average annual return of 6.4%, standing out among Asian peers. In 2023, the national pension fund recorded an investment return of Rmb25 billion ($3.5 billion), or 0.96%, including a realised...

October 22, 2024

Newssavings, System sustainability, US

17OctOctober 17, 2024

Can today’s pensions survive tomorrow’s longer lifespans?

The 2024 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI) reveals the ongoing need for retirement system improvements globally, driven by declining birth rates and increasing longevity. The 16th annual report, released by Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan, and the CFA Institute, highlights how pension systems are adapting. The Netherlands remains the top-performing retirement income system worldwide, with Iceland in second place and Denmark in third. Pat Tomlinson, Mercer’s president and CEO, emphasized the growing importance of retirement income systems as...

October 17, 2024

NewsAging, Labor Market, System sustainability

10SepSeptember 10, 2024

Study Suggests Reforming U.S. Retirement System with Modern Framework

After studying international retirement systems, researchers from the TIAA Institute are proposing a new U.S. model featuring a “hybrid” system consisting of the best elements from defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) plans. In noting that the average retiree can now expect to spend about two decades in retirement, roughly double the time from 50 years ago, the study (The Future of Retirement Security) looks at how seven countries have adapted their retirement systems to account for these extended...

September 10, 2024

NewsDefined Benefit, Defined Contribution, System sustainability, US

10SepSeptember 10, 2024

Reflecting on this summer’s global IT outages – lessons for pension schemes

After the Capita Cyber Security incident of March/April 2023 (which we discussed at the time here) and, more recently, BBC cyber security incident of May 2024 (which we also discussed here), the pensions industry arguably did not need another reminder of the importance of cyber security for its schemes and stakeholders. However, the global IT outage that took place this summer (July 2024) has provided another such reminder – highlighting the heavy reliance of modern society on our digital infrastructure, and equally,...

September 10, 2024

NewsRegulation, Security, System sustainability

31JulJuly 31, 2024

The Bulgarian Pension System: Caught Between Adequacy And Sustainability

By Jean-Jacques Hallaert During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulgarian authorities increased pensions substantially to support pensioners’ living standards and aggregate demand. These increases have become permanent and improved the adequacy of pensions. However, not matched by revenue measures, they have widened the deficit of the pension system. Reforms that increase the incentives to contribute to the pension system and thus revenue would improve the financial sustainability of the pension system and reduce fiscal risks. Source SSRN

July 31, 2024

Adequacy, Articles2024, Adequacy, Bulgaria, System sustainability, Taxation

March 2025

Public pensions reforms: financial and political sustainability

Oman. Early retirement poses risk to pension fund sustainability: SPF CEO

January 2025

Challenges Related to Aging Population

Pension crises ‘will start to bite’ over next decade, WEF risk report finds

October 2024

BlackRock’s Fink says U.S. needs to discuss retirement system issues, national debt

China state pension recoups losses, posts positive return in 2023

Can today’s pensions survive tomorrow’s longer lifespans?

September 2024

Study Suggests Reforming U.S. Retirement System with Modern Framework

Reflecting on this summer’s global IT outages – lessons for pension schemes

July 2024

The Bulgarian Pension System: Caught Between Adequacy And Sustainability