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Supplementary pension schemes in Italy: features, development and opportunities for workers

Author

Listed:
  • Riccardo Cesari

    (Banca d'Italia)

  • Giuseppe Grande

    (Banca d'Italia)

  • Fabio Panetta

    (Banca d'Italia)

Abstract

Participation in supplementary pension funds allows workers to exploit tax benefits and payroll employees to take advantage of employer contributions. The simulations reported in the paper show that these two components can considerably increase workers' retirement wealth. Data show that returns on supplementary pension funds may be greater than the revaluation rate of the so-called Trattamento di fine rapporto (Tfr, severance pay entitlements that also serve as provision for old age and are funded by workers' contributions). As for the liquidity of accrued positions, recent changes in the law give retirement wealth held in pension funds a degree of flexibility comparable to that of the Tfr. The paper shows that scale economies may be substantial. Cost moderation also requires transparency and comparability of charges and fees: they are also essential in stimulating competition and allowing workers to move freely from expensive retirement schemes to schemes charging lower fees. In this respect the limits on the portability of employer contributions discourage worker mobility across different pension schemes. Italian workers seem to overestimate the level of the future public pension. This result suggests the importance of strengthening public efforts aimed at providing workers with appropriate information, to make them aware of their retirement position.

Suggested Citation

  • Riccardo Cesari & Giuseppe Grande & Fabio Panetta, 2007. "Supplementary pension schemes in Italy: features, development and opportunities for workers," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 8, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
  • Handle: RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_8_07
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    File URL: https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/qef/2007-0008/QEF_8.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Renata Bottazzi & Tullio Jappelli & Mario Padula, 2009. "The Portfolio Effect of Pension Reforms," Working Papers 2009_17, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    2. Giuseppe Grande & Ignazio Visco, 2010. "A public guarantee of a minimum return to defined contribution pension scheme members," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 762, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    3. Devis Geron, 2011. "Severance Pay or Pension Funds?," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0139, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    4. Holzmann, Robert & Pouget, Yann & Vodopivec, Milan & Weber, Michael, 2011. "Severance pay programs around the world : history, rationale, status, and reforms," Social Protection Discussion Papers and Notes 62726, The World Bank.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    pension funds; retirement; financial education; employer contributions; management fees; TFR;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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