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The Chinese pension system - First results on assessing the reform options

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  • Heikki Oksanen

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse options for reforming the fragmented Chinese pension system that covers only 55 % of urban employees and a very small part of the rural population. After a brief history of pensions in China we present recent reform proposals and then discuss principles of pension reforms, with particular attention to reducing the pension contribution rates so that compliance could improve and coverage increase. As the Chinese population is ageing fast, we are presenting transition to a notional defined contribution (NDC) system as a model for adjusting the pension rules for increasing longevity. Transforming the accrued pension rights into NDC accounts and starting to apply the new NDC-inspired rules on indexation is not necessarily a jump into the unknown for the Chinese pensions system. Rather, it could be a useful and long-awaited clarification to the rules and a way to move towards a more uniform system nationwide. With the help of a simulation model based on Chinese data we produce scenarios for a range of pension reforms and assess their properties.

Suggested Citation

  • Heikki Oksanen, 2010. "The Chinese pension system - First results on assessing the reform options," European Economy - Economic Papers 2008 - 2015 412, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    • Handle: RePEc:euf:ecopap:0412
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Halvor Mehlum & Ragnar Torvik & Simone Valente, 2013. "China s Savings Multiplier," Working Papers No 4/2013, Centre for Applied Macro- and Petroleum economics (CAMP), BI Norwegian Business School.
    2. Rose Gilroy, 2012. "Physical Threats to Older People's Social Worlds: Findings from a Pilot Study in Wuhan, China," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(2), pages 458-476, February.
    3. Narottam Gaan, 2021. "Twenty-First-Century Hyper-power, China or USA: Is Demography the Determinant?," Jadavpur Journal of International Relations, , vol. 25(2), pages 143-166, December.
    4. Yue Guo & Lailei Lou & Tailai Guo & Zuwei Yu, 2017. "Valuing The Chinese Reimbursement System Of The Retirement Pension Insurance For Urban Employees," Eurasian Journal of Social Sciences, Eurasian Publications, vol. 5(2), pages 34-52.
    5. Iris Claus & Les Oxley & Yong Cai & Yuan Cheng, 2014. "Pension Reform In China: Challenges And Opportunities," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 636-651, September.
    6. Qiushi Feng & Wei-Jun Jean Yeung & Zhenglian Wang & Yi Zeng, 2019. "Age of Retirement and Human Capital in an Aging China, 2015–2050," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(1), pages 29-62, February.
    7. Zhenhua Zheng & Ning Sun & Liu Yang & Wanting Liu & Yingchen Lu & Yusu Chu & Hong Chen, 2023. "The socioeconomic status of adult children, intergenerational support, and the well-being of Chinese older adults," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Jiamin Lim & Arianna Cowling, 2016. "China’s Demographic Outlook," RBA Bulletin (Print copy discontinued), Reserve Bank of Australia, pages 35-42, June.
    9. Li, Zhigang & Wu, Mingqin, 2018. "Education and welfare program compliance: Firm-level evidence from a pension reform in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-13.
    10. Peter J. Stauvermann & Jin Hu, 2018. "What can China Expect from an Increase of the Mandatory Retirement Age?," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 19(1), pages 229-246, May.
    11. Mehlum, Halvor & Torvik, Ragnar & Valente, Simone, 2016. "The savings multiplier," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 90-105.
    12. Shuo Ding, 2022. "A Comparative Analysis of Vulnerability to Poverty between Urban and Rural Households in China," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-28, October.
    13. Holzmann, Robert & Jousten, Alain, 2010. "Addressing the Legacy Costs in an NDC Reform: Conceptualization, Measurement, Financing," IZA Discussion Papers 5296, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    14. Anping Chen & Marlon Boarnet & Mark Partridge & Bin R. Chen & Mingqin Wu, 2014. "Industrial Agglomeration And Employer Compliance With Social Security Contribution: Evidence From China," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 586-605, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Oksanen; China; population ageing; pension reforms; notional defined contribution scheme; NDC;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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