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Swiss pension funds: funding ratio, discount rate, and asset allocation

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  • Jorma J. Schäublin

    (University of Basel
    Raiffeisen Schweiz)

Abstract

The funding ratio is a financial indicator to measure the viability of pension funds. The paper analyzes how Swiss occupational pension funds’ technical discount rate and asset allocation are related to the funding ratio. The paper shows that funds with weaker funding ratios apply higher rates to discount future pension liabilities what points toward euphemistic discounting. Further, weaker funded pension funds invest less in equities—with the exception of pension funds below the regulatory minimum threshold. The latter invest more in equities than funds above the threshold, which points to gambling for resurrection. The findings question the funding ratio as a transparent measure for pensions’ sustainability and unfold the regulatory environment’s disincentives.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorma J. Schäublin, 2022. "Swiss pension funds: funding ratio, discount rate, and asset allocation," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 158(1), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sjecst:v:158:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1186_s41937-022-00092-6
    DOI: 10.1186/s41937-022-00092-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pension funds; Non-Bank Financial Institutions; Funding ratio;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation

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