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Asset rich and cash poor: retirement provision and housing policy in Singapore

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  • McCARTHY, DAVID
  • MITCHELL, OLIVIA S.
  • PIGGOTT, JOHN

Abstract

National defined contribution pension systems have long been a mainstay of retirement income in Asia. One of the oldest and best known of these systems is the Singaporean Central Provident Fund, a mandatory retirement scheme managed by the central government for almost a half-century. With required contribution rates that have ranged up to 50%, this program has powerfully shaped asset accumulation patterns and housing portfolios. This paper explores how the structure and design of the Singaporean retirement and housing schemes influence wealth levels and asset mix at retirement. Our model indicates that outcomes rest critically on the interlinked national retirement and housing programs. We show that policies to enhance one program may boost retirement replacement rates but can also lower total wealth in unexpected ways. The lessons we draw may serve as guidance for other countries constructing a national defined contribution retirement system.

Suggested Citation

  • McCARTHY, DAVID & MITCHELL, OLIVIA S. & PIGGOTT, JOHN, 2002. "Asset rich and cash poor: retirement provision and housing policy in Singapore," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(3), pages 197-222, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jpenef:v:1:y:2002:i:03:p:197-222_00
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    2. repec:ilo:ilowps:485017 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Phang, Sock-Yong & Helble, Matthias, 2016. "Housing Policies in Singapore," ADBI Working Papers 559, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    4. Phang, Sock-Yong, 2004. "House prices and aggregate consumption: do they move together? Evidence from Singapore," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 101-119, June.
    5. Jr-Wei Huang & Sharon S. Yang & Chuang-Chang Chang, 2021. "Modeling Housing Price Dynamics and their Impact on the Cost of no-Negative-Equity-Guarantees for Equity Releasing Products," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 249-279, August.
    6. Stefan Fölster & Robert Gidehag & Mike Orszag & Dennis J. Snower, 2003. "Health Accounts and Other Welfare Accounts," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 1(3), pages 09-14, October.
    7. Michael Davies & Jacob Gyntelberg & Eric Chan, 2007. "Housing finance agencies in Asia," BIS Working Papers 241, Bank for International Settlements.
    8. Xu, Mengyi & Alonso-García, Jennifer & Sherris, Michael & Shao, Adam W., 2023. "Insuring longevity risk and long-term care: Bequest, housing and liquidity," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 121-141.
    9. Garcia Huitron, Manuel & Ponds, Eduard, 2016. "Participation and Choice in Funded Pension Plans : Guidance for the Netherlands from Worldwide Diversity," Other publications TiSEM 5351a381-f866-4566-82d8-9, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    10. Mengyi Xu & Jennifer Alonso Garcia & Michael Sherris & Adam Shao, 2022. "Insuring Longevity Risk and Long-Term Care: Bequest, Housing and Liquidity," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/340821, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    11. Stefan Fölster & Robert Gidehag & Mike Orszag & Dennis J. Snower, 2003. "Health Accounts and Other Welfare Accounts," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 1(03), pages 09-14, October.
    12. Karunarathne, Wasana & Abeysinghe, Tilak, 2005. "Does mandatory pension savings crowd out private savings?: The experience of Sri Lanka," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 830-846, October.
    13. Ngee-Choon Chia & Albert K C Tsui, 2005. "Reverse Mortgages as Retirement Financing Instrument : An Option for “Asset-rich and Cash-poor†Singaporeans," Finance Working Papers 22566, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
    14. Pundarik Mukhopadhaya & Sunil Venaik, 2014. "Old-Age Income Insecurity in Singapore: A Problem of Non-Inclusive Development," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3-4), pages 184-206, December.
    15. Knaack,Peter & Miller,Margaret J. & Stewart,Fiona Elizabeth, 2020. "Reverse Mortgages, Financial Inclusion, and Economic Development : Potential Benefit and Risks," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9134, The World Bank.
    16. Ngee-Choon Chia & Albert K C Tsui, 2009. "Monetizing Housing Equity to Generate Retirement Incomes," Microeconomics Working Papers 22759, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
    17. Tat Hui, Weng & Toh, Ruby., 2014. "Growth with equity in Singapore : challenges and prospects," ILO Working Papers 994850173402676, International Labour Organization.
    18. Fong, Joelle H. & Koh, Benedict SK. & Mitchell, Olivia S. & Rohwedder, Susann, 2019. "Financial literacy and suboptimal financial decisions at older ages," CFS Working Paper Series 630, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).

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