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Investment patterns in Singapore's Central Provident Fund System

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  • KOH, BENEDICT S. K.
  • MITCHELL, OLIVIA S.
  • TANUWIDJAJA, TOTO
  • FONG, JOELLE

Abstract

Rising elderly life expectancies imply the need to accumulate sufficient savings for retirement. This paper investigates the role of recent changes in the investment menu of the Singaporean Central Provident Fund (CPF) system. Our research explores the investment patterns of CPF participants and articulates their implications for policymakers. We find that most investors use their money for housing purchase and default the remainder to the CPF investment pool. The bulk of non-housing saving sits in bank accounts paying a low return. A fraction of workers does elect outside investment products, with high-income earners and males taking more risk than low-income earners and females. Since workers who default their money to the CPF fund receive a guaranteed 2.5% return on the Ordinary Account and 4% on the Special Account, hurdle rates for money market and equity funds are substantial. These high hurdle rates help explain why few CPF account holders invest outside the default government investment pool, though inertia probably explains why many employees let their funds sit in bank accounts earning low interest rates. More attention could be devoted to lowering fund expenses and commissions, including the myriad of fees, expenses, loads, and wrap charges; it might also be beneficial to streamline and rationalize the investment menu offered to participants.

Suggested Citation

  • Koh, Benedict S. K. & Mitchell, Olivia S. & Tanuwidjaja, Toto & Fong, Joelle, 2008. "Investment patterns in Singapore's Central Provident Fund System," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(1), pages 37-65, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jpenef:v:7:y:2008:i:01:p:37-65_00
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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. Xiaoyi Shen & Albert K. Tsui & Zhaoyong Zhang, 2019. "Volatility Timing in CPF Investment Funds in Singapore: Do They Outperform Non-CPF Funds?," Risks, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Fong, Joelle H. & Koh, Benedict S.K. & Mitchell, Olivia S. & Rohwedder, Susann, 2021. "Financial literacy and financial decision-making at older ages," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    4. Hongyan Chen & Jinping Song & Huaxiong Jiang, 2023. "Inequity in Housing Welfare: Assessing the Inter-City Performance of China’s Housing Provident Fund Program," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Fong, Joelle H., 2020. "Taking control: Active investment choice in Singapore’s national defined contribution scheme," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    6. 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.
    7. Brzeszczyński, Janusz & Bohl, Martin T. & Serwa, Dobromił, 2019. "Pension funds, large capital inflows and stock returns in a thin market," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(3), pages 347-387, July.

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