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Have scale effects on cost margins of pension fund investment portfolios disappeared?

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  • Jacob A. Bikker
  • Jeroen J. Meringa

Abstract

Investment costs of pension funds are crucial for their returns. Consolidation in the pension fund market proceeds continuously, often with cost savings as the main argument. Unused economies of scale in pension fund investment costs, however, have declined over the years to values close to zero, except for very small pension funds. This paper investigates investment economies of scale in the Netherlands and pays special attention to the non-linear relationship between investment costs and sizes of pension funds. Furthermore, investment cost margins are disaggregated into three cost types and into six asset categories. Performance fees are in particular paid for complex asset categories held by large pension funds. They reduce the traditional-scale economy results for the entire portfolio. Cost savings by consolidation is still possible but is very limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacob A. Bikker & Jeroen J. Meringa, 2022. "Have scale effects on cost margins of pension fund investment portfolios disappeared?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(39), pages 4501-4518, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:54:y:2022:i:39:p:4501-4518
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2022.2030857
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    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • L0 - Industrial Organization - - General

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