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Privatization of public pensions in Germany: Who gains and how much?

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  • Fehr, Hans

Abstract

This paper examines the distributional and efficiency effects of pension privatization in Germany. Starting from a benchmark that refects the current unfunded pension system, a fully funded system is introduced. The accrued benefits of the old system are financed by alternative tax combinations as well as deficit increases. The quantitative analysis is based on an Auerbach-Kotliko type simulation model that distinguishes between five lifetime income classes within each age cohort. The simulations reveal a clear trade-off between the efficiency and equity aspects of alternative financing schemes. While consumption taxes are the most efficient financing instrument, they also undermine intra- and intergenerational equity. Phasing-out the unfunded system on the other hand not only dampens the income redistribution across and within generations, but also reduces the efficiency gains dramatically.

Suggested Citation

  • Fehr, Hans, 1998. "Privatization of public pensions in Germany: Who gains and how much?," Tübinger Diskussionsbeiträge 148, University of Tübingen, School of Business and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:tuedps:148
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Feldstein, Martin, 1996. "The Missing Piece in Policy Analysis: Social Security Reform," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(2), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Bernd Raffelhüschen, 1993. "Funding social security through Pareto-optimal conversion policies," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 105-131, December.
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    4. Axel Borsch-Supan & Reinhold Schnabel, 1999. "Social Security and Retirement in Germany," NBER Chapters, in: Social Security and Retirement around the World, pages 135-180, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Homburg, Stefan, 1997. "Kapitaldeckung als praktikable Leitidee," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 61-85.
    6. Homburg, Stefan & Richter, Wolfram, 1990. "Eine effizienzorientierte Reform der GRV," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 183-191.
    7. Glismann, Hans H. & Horn, Ernst-Jürgen, 1997. "Towards a funded system of social security: Design and implications - The case of Germany -," Kiel Working Papers 836, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
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    Cited by:

    1. Hans Fehr, 2000. "Pension Reform during the Demographic Transition," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(3), pages 419-443, September.
    2. Manfred Stadler & Rüdiger Wapler, 2004. "Endogenous Skilled-biased Technological Change and Matching Unemployment," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 81(1), pages 1-24, January.
    3. Fehr, Hans & Wiegard, Wolfgang, 1998. "Effizienz- und Verteilungswirkungen einer zinsbereinigten Einkommen- und Gewinnsteuer," Tübinger Diskussionsbeiträge 124, University of Tübingen, School of Business and Economics.
    4. repec:jns:jbstat:v:219:y:1999:i:3-4:p:494-503 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Stadler, Manfred, 2003. "Innovation and growth: The role of labor-force qualification," Tübinger Diskussionsbeiträge 255, University of Tübingen, School of Business and Economics.
    6. Wrede, Matthias, 1998. "Pareto efficiency of the pay-as-you-go pension system in a three-period-OLG model," BERG Working Paper Series 27, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.

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