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Private Pensions - A Viable Alternative? Distributive Effects of Private Pensions in a Comparative Perspective

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  • Christina Behrendt

Abstract

Pension reforms have been on the political agenda of governments and of international organisations as the OECD and the World Bank for some time. However, the strengthening of private elements in pension systems is often believed to intensify existing inequalities in the distribution of pensions among the population and to contribute to the marginalisation of large groups of the elderly. This paper explores the distributive effects of private pensions on the basis of LIS microdata for twelve industrialised welfare states. Its results confirm that private pensions indeed tend to produce specific inequalities, but also emphasise the importance of policy factors in mitigating the distributive effects of private pensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Behrendt, 1999. "Private Pensions - A Viable Alternative? Distributive Effects of Private Pensions in a Comparative Perspective," LIS Working papers 220, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:lis:liswps:220
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Evandrou & Jane Falkingham & Tom Sefton, 2009. "The relationship between women’s work histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany," CASE Papers case137, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    2. Christopher Niggle, 2003. "Globalization, Neoliberalism and the attack on social security," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(1), pages 51-71.
    3. Evandrou, Maria & Falkingham, Jane & Sefton, Tom, 2009. "The relationship between women’s work histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 43863, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Evandrou, Maria & Falkingham, Jane & Sefton, Tom, 2009. "The relationship between women's work histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 28243, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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