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Superannuation in Australia: A Survey of the Literature

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  • Geoffrey Kingston
  • Susan Thorp

Abstract

In 2017 Australian superannuation assets stood at 148 per cent of GDP, or $2.5 trillion in absolute terms. This was the world's fourth largest pool of retirement savings, a remarkable outcome over 25 years of the operation of the Superannuation Guarantee. We survey the local academic, industry and policy literature on the economics of superannuation during the last quarter of a century. Topics include the policy debate, the positive, normative and behavioural economics of household interaction with superannuation, and the structure, conduct and performance of the superannuation industry. We encourage further research into effective tax rates, the need to hedge human capital and the automation of financial advice.

Suggested Citation

  • Geoffrey Kingston & Susan Thorp, 2019. "Superannuation in Australia: A Survey of the Literature," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 95(308), pages 141-160, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecorec:v:95:y:2019:i:308:p:141-160
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-4932.12443
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Sarantis Tsiaplias & Qi Zeng & Guay C. Lim, 2023. "Retail Investor Trading Intentions: New Evidence from Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 99(327), pages 512-535, December.
    3. Mara Hammerle & Paul Crosby & Rohan Best, 2021. "Super‐sizing Renewable Energy Investment: Examining the Portfolio Preferences of Superannuation Fund Members," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 97(317), pages 267-284, June.
    4. Pamela Kent & Richard Kent & Robyn McCormack & Julie‐Anne Tarr, 2023. "Disclosure of liquidity and cash flow statements by Australian superannuation funds before Covid‐19," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2653-2675, June.
    5. Zhu, Rong & Onur, Ilke, 2023. "Does retirement (really) increase informal caregiving? Quasi-experimental evidence from Australia," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    6. Peng, Xiaowen & Alpert, Karen & Hsu, Grace Chia-Man, 2020. "Switching between superannuation funds: Does performance and marketing matter?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Antonia Settle, 2021. "'Don't play if you can't win': exploring household disengagement with the pension system through financial diaries data," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2021n29, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    8. Nguyen, Ha Trong & Mitrou, Francis & Zubrick, Stephen R., 2021. "Retirement, housing mobility, downsizing and neighbourhood quality - A causal investigation," GLO Discussion Paper Series 882, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    9. Elisa Birch & Alison Preston, 2021. "Women, COVID-19 and Superannuation," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 24(2), pages 175-198.

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