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Reforming pensions: Myths, truths, and policy choices

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  • Nicholas Barr

Abstract

This paper discusses the building blocks of pension reform in the light of economic theory, and their application to different types of economy. The opening section sets out the simple economics of pensions. The second section discusses a series of myths which have proved remarkably persistent. Building on this analysis, the latter part of the paper sets out the foundations of effective pensions policy. The third section discusses the prerequisites which any pension reform must respect, i.e. those things which policy advisers can — and should — assert authoritatively. The fourth section turns to the range of choices facing policymakers, drawing on the very different arrangements in different countries. The main conclusions are threefold: (1) The key variable is effective government. (2) From an economic perspective, the difference between pay‐as‐you‐go and funding is second order. (3) The range of potential choice over pension design is wide. One size does not fit all.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Barr, 2002. "Reforming pensions: Myths, truths, and policy choices," International Social Security Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(2), pages 3-36.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:intssr:v:55:y:2002:i:2:p:3-36
    DOI: 10.1111/1468-246X.00122
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    Cited by:

    1. De Santis Gustavo, 2024. "Demography, Economy and Policy Choices: The Three Corners of the Pension Conundrum," Statistics, Politics and Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 15(2), pages 169-200.
    2. Martin Werding, 2016. "One Pillar Crumbling, the Others Too Short: Old-Age Provision in Germany," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 237(1), pages 13-21, August.
    3. Werding, Martin & Primorac, Marko, 2018. "Old-age provision in transition: the case of Croatia," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(4), pages 576-593, October.
    4. Yansong David Wang & Tao Louie Xu & Cheng Yuan, 2024. "It Takes Three to Ceilidh: Pension System and Multidimensional Poverty Mitigation in China," Papers 2411.02807, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2025.
    5. Riccardo Magnani, 2018. "What's gone wrong in the design of PAYG systems?," CEPN Working Papers 2018-13, Centre d'Economie de l'Université de Paris Nord.
    6. Garon, Jean-Denis, 2016. "The commitment value of funding pensions," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 11-14.
    7. Geri, Milva, 2022. "Pension arrangements and economic thinking: unreal assumptions and false predictions in the case of Argentina," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), April.
    8. Mr. Rene Weber & David S. Gerber, 2007. "Aging, Asset Allocation, and Costs: Evidence for the Pension Fund Industry in Switzerland," IMF Working Papers 2007/029, International Monetary Fund.
    9. Gustavo DeSantis, 2014. "More with less: the Almost Ideal Pension Systems (AIPS)," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 12(1), pages 169-192.
    10. Andrew Coleman, 2016. "Pension payments and receipts by New Zealand birth cohorts, 1916--1986," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(1), pages 51-70, April.
    11. Aleksander Grad & Jakub Karnowski & Andrzej Rzońca, 2022. "Jak powiązać prywatyzację i rozwój filara kapitałowego w systemie emerytalnym – propozycja," Ekonomista, Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne, issue 4, pages 484-508.
    12. repec:hal:cepnwp:hal-01966571 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Teresa Ghilarducci & Karthik Manickam, 2023. "A Critical Survey of Pension Provision And Pension Reform," SCEPA working paper series. 2023-04, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School.

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