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Coping with demographic change: macroeconomic performance and welfare inequality effects of public pension reform

Author

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  • Devriendt, Willem
  • Heylen, Freddy
  • Jacobs, Arthur

Abstract

This paper evaluates alternative reforms of the public pension system in an overlapping generations model for an open economy facing demographic change. We make progress compared to existing literature on pension reform by modelling individuals with heterogeneous innate ability and endogenous human capital, and by putting (the reduction of) welfare inequality effects of reform at the centre. Frequently adopted reforms such as an increase of the normal retirement age or a decrease of the pension benefit can guarantee financial sustainability, but they fail when the objective is also to avoid intergenerational or intragenerational welfare inequality. Our results prefer a reform which combines an increase of the retirement age with an intelligent linkage between the pension benefit and earlier labour earnings. First, this design conditions pension benefits on past individual labour income, with a high weight on labour income earned when older and a low weight on labour income earned when young. Second, this linkage is complemented by a strong rise in the benefit replacement rate for low ability individuals (and a reduction for high ability individuals).

Suggested Citation

  • Devriendt, Willem & Heylen, Freddy & Jacobs, Arthur, 2023. "Coping with demographic change: macroeconomic performance and welfare inequality effects of public pension reform," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(3), pages 425-449, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jpenef:v:22:y:2023:i:3:p:425-449_8
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    Cited by:

    1. Kim, Jae-Yoon & Lee, Dongwoo, 2024. "Pension systems revisited in the age of automation and an aging economy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    2. SUMIZAWA, Kazui, 2025. "Linking Educational Loan Subsidies to Pay-as-you-go Pension Reforms," MPRA Paper 124645, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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