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What is an adequate standard of living during retirement?

Author

Listed:
  • Johannes Binswanger
  • Daniel Schunk

    (Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (MEA))

Abstract

Many economists and policy-makers argue that households do not save enough to maintain an adequate standard of living during retirement. However, there is no consensus on the answer to the underlying question what this standard should be, despite the fact that it is crucial for the design of saving incentives and pension reforms. We address this question with a survey, individually tailored to each respondent’s financial situation, conducted both in the U.S. and the Netherlands. Key findings are that adequate levels of retirement spending exceed 70 percent of working life spending, and minimum acceptable replacement rates depend strongly on income. Key words: Life cycle preferences, pension reform, replacement rates, retirement saving.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes Binswanger & Daniel Schunk, 2008. "What is an adequate standard of living during retirement?," MEA discussion paper series 08171, Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (MEA) at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:mea:meawpa:08171
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    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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