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Beyond the Toledo agreement: the intergenerational impact of the Spanish Pension Reform

Author

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  • Holger Bonin

    (University of Freiburg, Institute of Public Finance, 79098 Freiburg, Germany Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat d'Economia, Av. Diagonal 690, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Joan Gil

    (University of Freiburg, Institute of Public Finance, 79098 Freiburg, Germany Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat d'Economia, Av. Diagonal 690, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Concepció Patxot

    (University of Freiburg, Institute of Public Finance, 79098 Freiburg, Germany Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat d'Economia, Av. Diagonal 690, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

The paper examines the intergenerational impact of the Spanish public pension system after the 1997 Pension Reform Act. Within a Generational Accounting framework, we find that the new legal setting could leave future generations with liabilities as high as 176% of 1996 GDP. Hence, we analyse the impact of alternative reforms. Holding the pay-as-you-go setting, a further improvement to tax-benefit linkage in line with the Toledo Agreement proposals is shown to yield an intergenerationally more balanced outcome, than an increase in the retirement age or an expansion of public subsidies financed through indirect taxes. Finally, a move toward a partially funded pension system which restores the intergenerational balance is simulated.

Suggested Citation

  • Holger Bonin & Joan Gil & Concepció Patxot, 2001. "Beyond the Toledo agreement: the intergenerational impact of the Spanish Pension Reform," Spanish Economic Review, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 3(2), pages 111-130.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:specre:v:3:y:2001:i:2:p:111-130
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    8. José A. Herce & Javier Alonso, "undated". "Los efectos económicos de la Ley de Consolidación de la Seguridad Social. Perspectivas financieras del sistema de pensiones tras su entrada en vigor," Working Papers 98-16, FEDEA.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gemma Abío & Eduard Berenguer & Holger Bonin & Joan Gil & Concepció Patxot, 2003. "Is the deficit under control? A generational accounting perspective on fiscal policy and labour market trends in Spain," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 27(2), pages 309-341, May.
    2. Lucio Baccaro, 2002. "Negotiating the Italian Pension Reform with the Unions: Lessons for Corporatist Theory," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 55(3), pages 413-431, April.
    3. Holger Bonin & Concepció Patxot & Guadalupe Souto, 2014. "Cyclically‐Neutral Generational Accounting," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 35, pages 117-137, June.
    4. Emilio Gómez-Déniz & Jorge V. Pérez-Rodríguez & Simón Sosvilla-Rivero, 2022. "Analyzing How the Social Security Reserve Fund in Spain Affects the Sustainability of the Pension System," Risks, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Concepció Patxot & Elisenda Rentería & Miguel Romero & Guadalupe Souto, 2012. "Measuring the balance of government intervention on forward and backward family transfers using NTA estimates: the modified Lee arrows," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 19(3), pages 442-461, June.
    6. Carlos Vidal-Meliá & Inmaculada Domínguez-Fabian, 2005. "The Spanish Pension System: Issues Of Introducing Notional Defined Contribution Accounts," Public Economics 0504006, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Gemma Abio Roig & Joan Gil Trasfi & Concepcion Patxot Cardoner, 2005. "La Ley de Estabilidad Presupuestaria en el largo plazo: efecto del ciclo demografico," Working Papers in Economics 126, Universitat de Barcelona. Espai de Recerca en Economia.
    8. Simonovits, András & Gál, Róbert Iván & Tarcali, Géza, 2001. "Korosztályi elszámolás a magyar nyugdíjrendszerben [Generational accounting and the Hungarian pension reform]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(4), pages 291-306.
    9. Henryk Gurgul & Paweł Majdosz, 2006. "The impact of institutional investors on risk and stock return autocorrelations in the context of the Polish pension reform," Operations Research and Decisions, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Management, vol. 16(2), pages 5-30.
    10. Gál, Róbert I. & Simonovits, András & Tarcali, Géza, 2001. "Generational accounting and Hungarian pension reform," Social Protection Discussion Papers and Notes 90343, The World Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Spanish pension reform; intergenerational redistribution; generational accounting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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