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Living with risk: Retired couples’ experiences of a financialised retirement income system

Author

Listed:
  • Siobhan Austen

    (Curtin University, Australia)

  • Ray Broomhill

    (University of Adelaide, Australia)

  • Monica Costa

    (Curtin University, Australia)

  • Rhonda Sharp

    (University of South Australia, Australia)

Abstract

This paper presents new data on the nature and consequences of the risks for retirees inherent in the Australian retirement income system. This system can be regarded as ‘financialised’ in that retirement savings are primarily managed by non-government financial institutions and, although the Age Pension remains as a safety net, responsibility for the provision and management of retirement incomes has increasingly shifted to individuals. In this article we report the results of a qualitative study of older mixed-sex couple households’ experiences of this system and discuss the implications for retirement incomes policy. We conclude that while the system of government-mandated employer superannuation contributions (the Superannuation Guarantee) is undoubtedly raising the living standard of many older Australians, the financialised nature of the retirement income system, as a whole, poses significant financial risks for many retirees. JEL Codes: H31, H55, J18

Suggested Citation

  • Siobhan Austen & Ray Broomhill & Monica Costa & Rhonda Sharp, 2022. "Living with risk: Retired couples’ experiences of a financialised retirement income system," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 33(4), pages 737-753, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:33:y:2022:i:4:p:737-753
    DOI: 10.1177/10353046221135394
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bernard Mees, 2020. "Risk shifting and the decline of defined benefit pension schemes in Australia," Accounting History Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 69-87, January.
    2. Mitchell Orenstein & Robert Holzmann & Michal Rutkowski, 2003. "Pension Reform in Europe : Process and Progress," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15132, April.
    3. Clark, Gordon, 2000. "Pension Fund Capitalism," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199240487.
    4. Ariane Hillig, 2019. "Everyday financialization: The case of UK households," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 51(7), pages 1460-1478, October.
    5. Sarah M. Brooks & R. Kent Weaver, 2005. "Lashed to the Mast?: The Politics of Notional Defined Contribution Pension Reforms," Working Papers, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College wp2005-4, Center for Retirement Research, revised Jan 2005.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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