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Pareto-improving transition to fully funded pensions under myopia

Author

Listed:
  • Andersen, Torben M.
  • Bhattacharya, Joydeep
  • Gestsson, Marias H.

Abstract

Under dynamic efficiency, a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) pension scheme is often described as an “original sin”: It helps the current generation of retirees but hurts future generations because they are forced to save via a return-dominated scheme. Abandoning it is deemed welfare-improving but typically not for all generations. But what if agents are present-biased (hence, undersave for retirement) and the “paternalistically motivated forced savings” component of a PAYG scheme motivated its existence in the first place? This paper shows it is possible to transition from such a PAYG scheme on to a higher return, mandated fully-funded scheme; yet, no generation is hurt in the process. The results informthe debate on policy design of pension systems as more and more policy makers push for the transition to take place but are forced to recognize that current retirees may get hurt along the way.

Suggested Citation

  • Andersen, Torben M. & Bhattacharya, Joydeep & Gestsson, Marias H., 2018. "Pareto-improving transition to fully funded pensions under myopia," ISU General Staff Papers 201811010700001066, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isu:genstf:201811010700001066
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongzi Liu & Ryo Sakamoto, 2025. "On the role of social security systems in a non-unitary discounting model," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(3), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Torben M. Andersen & Joydeep Bhattacharya & Qing Liu, 2023. "Can optimal unfunded public pensions co-exist with voluntary private retirement savings?," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 237-251, July.
    3. Amol Amol & Monisankar Bishnu & Tridip Ray, 2023. "Pension, possible phaseout, and endogenous fertility in general equilibrium," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 25(2), pages 376-406, April.
    4. Gustafsson, Johan, 2021. "Public Pension Reform and the Equity-Efficiency Trade-off," Umeå Economic Studies 992, Umeå University, Department of Economics.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook

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