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Investing Social Security in the Equity Market. Does It Make a Difference?

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  • Pestieau, Pierre
  • Possen, Uri M.

Abstract

We show that investing social security in the equity market makes no difference under three assumptions: (1) the transition generation is compensated by public borrowing, (2) the benefit rule is unchanged, and (3) individuals’ portfolio choices are unconstrained. We also show that when these assumptions do not hold, the reform is not neutral; it can be Pareto improving but it can also be Pareto worsening. This depends particularly on the way portfolio choices are constrained. For example, if a majority of households are kept away from the equity market because of liquidity constraints, investing part of their contributions in the equity market can be Pareto improving.

Suggested Citation

  • Pestieau, Pierre & Possen, Uri M., 2000. "Investing Social Security in the Equity Market. Does It Make a Difference?," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 53(1), pages 41-58, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:53:y:2000:i:1:p:41-58
    DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2000.1.03
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henry J. Aaron & John B. Shoven, 1999. "Should the United States Privatize Social Security?," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262011743 edited by Benjamin M. Friedman, April.
    2. Pascal Belan & Pierre Pestieau, 1999. "Privatizing Social Security: A Critical Assessment," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 24(1), pages 114-130, January.
    3. Peter A. Diamond, 1997. "Macroeconomics Aspects of Social Security Reform," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 28(2), pages 1-88.
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    Cited by:

    1. Börsch-Supan, A. & Härtl, K. & Leite, D.N., 2016. "Social Security and Public Insurance," Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, in: Piggott, John & Woodland, Alan (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 781-863, Elsevier.
    2. PESTIEAU, Pierre & POSSEN, Uri, 2000. "Macroeconomic implications of switching the social security trust fund towards a greater investment in equities," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2000035, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    3. Ebrahim, M. Shahid & Mathur, Ike & ap Gwilym, Rhys, 2014. "Integrating corporate ownership and pension fund structures: A general equilibrium approach," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 553-569.
    4. Maen F. Nsour & Ph.D. & Samer AM Al-Rjoub & Ph.D., 2022. "How Would Investing in Equities Have Affected the Social Security Investment Fund in an Emerging Market? Can Governance Help?," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(4), pages 55-72.
    5. Börsch-Supan, Axel, 2002. "A Blue Print For Germany’s Pension Reform," MEA discussion paper series 02002, Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (MEA) at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy.

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