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Better-informed Workers and Retirement Savings Decisions: Impact Evaluation of a Personalized Pension Projection

Author

Listed:
  • Eduardo Fajnzylber
  • Gonzalo Plaza
  • Gonzalo Reyes

    (Studies Division, Chilean Pension Supervisor)

Abstract

In a defined contribution pension system based on individual accounts information is essential, as plan members are responsible for taking actions in order to avoid undesirable low levels of pension income during retirement. In this paper we use a unique natural experiment to analyze the impact of information on savings decisions. In 2005, Pension Fund Administrators started sending out a Personalized Pension Projection (PPP). The first sending included only individuals who contributed in a particular quarter of the year and some of them did not receive the statements due to problems with the accuracy of their current address. We use matching estimation techniques exploiting these sources of variation during the first year to identify the impact of information on savings decisions. Our results show that the new information provided caused an increase in the probability of making voluntary contributions for old age, of approximately 1.4 percentage points, for individuals in the 40-50 age group. The effect on a younger group was smaller, consistent with myopia or liquidity constraints explanations for the commonly observed fact that pension concerns only arise once individuals approach retirement age. The impact on women is significantly larger than that on men, potentially reflecting a higher sense of urgency. As expected, individuals exposed to a positive tax benefit when making voluntary contributions exhibit a significantly larger impact than tax exempt individuals. Contrary to what we expected, however, individuals with high projected replacement rate present a slightly higher impact than those with lower replacement rate. Overall, these results suggest that a simple improvement in the information provided in the pension system may have important effects on retirement decisions made by individuals..

Suggested Citation

  • Eduardo Fajnzylber & Gonzalo Plaza & Gonzalo Reyes, 2009. "Better-informed Workers and Retirement Savings Decisions: Impact Evaluation of a Personalized Pension Projection," Working Papers 31, Superintendencia de Pensiones, revised Sep 2009.
    • Handle: RePEc:sdp:sdpwps:31
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    6. Alberto Abadie & David Drukker & Jane Leber Herr & Guido W. Imbens, 2004. "Implementing matching estimators for average treatment effects in Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 4(3), pages 290-311, September.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Carlos Santiago Guzmán Gutiérrez, 2019. "Sistema Pensional Colombiano: implicaciones de la educación financiera sobre las decisiones de traslado de los individuos," Documentos CEDE 17677, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    2. Eduardo Fajnzylber & Gonzalo Reyes, 2015. "Knowledge, Information, and Retirement Saving Decisions: Evidence from a Large-Scale Intervention in Chile," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Spring 20), pages 83-117, February.
    3. Pascal Büsing & Henning Cordes & Thomas Langer, 2023. "How the provision of inflation information affects pension contributions: A field experiment," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 90(3), pages 633-666, September.
    4. Castro, Rubén & Fortunato, Andrés, 2015. "Is financial literacy an economic good?," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), August.
    5. Solange Berstein & Olga Fuentes & Nicolás Torrealba, 2010. "Sistema de Pensiones de Capitalización Individual: ¿Cómo Mitigar Riesgos?," Working Papers 35, Superintendencia de Pensiones, revised Feb 2010.
    6. Solange Berstein & Olga Fuentes & Nicolás Torrealba, 2011. "La Importancia de la Opción por Omisión en los Sistemas de Pensiones de Cuentas Individuales," Working Papers 44, Superintendencia de Pensiones, revised Jan 2011.
    7. Solange Berstein, 2011. "Implementación de la Reforma Previsional en Chile," Working Papers 45, Superintendencia de Pensiones, revised Apr 2011.
    8. Eduardo Fajnzylber & Susana Ojeda, 2012. "Evaluación de Impacto del Programa de Becas Fondo de Cesantía Solidario 2007," Working Papers wp_018, Adolfo Ibáñez University, School of Government.
    9. Solange Berstein & Olga Fuentes & Nicolás Torrealba, 2010. "In an Individually Funded Pension System: How Can Risks Be Mitigated?," Working Papers 36, Superintendencia de Pensiones, revised Feb 2010.
    10. Eduardo Fajnzylber & Susana Ojeda, 2011. "Evaluación de Impacto del Programa de Becas Fondo de Cesantía Solidario 2007," Working Papers 50, Superintendencia de Pensiones, revised Oct 2011.
    11. repec:idb:brikps:7677 is not listed on IDEAS

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