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Political support for reforms of the pension system: two experiments

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  • GOUVEIA, ANA FONTOURA

Abstract

We conduct two randomized control trials designed to understand the role of information and priming on the willingness to retrench the pension system. The first entails a survey to a sample of Portuguese voters, who are randomly presented with a text providing factual information about the public pension system. The second surveys a sample of Portuguese University students, randomly presented with an alternative order of questions. We show that more literacy on the pension system has a positive impact on the individual willingness to support reforms. Given that public opinion is usually seen as an important deterrent of effective action by politicians and that the level of voters’ literacy can be influenced by policy action, this analysis may provide useful insights to policy makers faced with the challenge of reforming existent pension systems. Our analysis also suggests that priming effects should not be ignored, given their impact in individuals in the extremes of the political spectrum.

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  • Gouveia, Ana Fontoura, 2017. "Political support for reforms of the pension system: two experiments," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(3), pages 371-394, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jpenef:v:16:y:2017:i:03:p:371-394_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Fornero, Elsa & Lo Prete, Anna, 2019. "Voting in the aftermath of a pension reform: the role of financial literacy," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(1), pages 1-30, January.
    2. Schuetz, Jana & Uebelmesser, Silke & Baginski, Ronja & Aprea, Carmela, 2023. "Pension reform preferences in Germany: Does information matter?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Ms. Izabela Karpowicz, 2019. "Self-Employment and Support for the Dutch Pension Reform," IMF Working Papers 2019/064, International Monetary Fund.
    4. Ana Fontoura Gouveia & Gustavo Monteiro & Sílvia Fonte Santa, 2019. "Product Markets’ Deregulation: A more Productive, more Effcient and more Resilient Economy?," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 230(3), pages 125-155, September.

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