Analysis of corporate pensions: do type and size of firm make a difference?

Adequate pensions are important to both individuals and the public interest. Pensions are important to all types of business, whether they are retailers, manufacturers, or service firms. Funding pensions has become a challenge for many companies of all types and sizes. Effectively managing employee compensation, including pensions, is a corporate social responsibility. Ethical guidelines for employee pay can be traced back to ancient times, such as precepts found in biblical passages. The current study seeks to expand understanding of pensions, specifically, to determine if differences are connected to firm type and firm size. Increased understanding may contribute to improved pension management by company managers and lead to more well-suited regulations by policy-makers. Results indicate that firm type is associated with differences in pension benefits paid relative to total assets and to total revenues. At the same time, there were no differences relative to firm size.