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A Matter of Trust: Understanding Worldwide Public Pension Conversions

Kent Smetters (smetters@wharton.upenn.edu) and Walter E. Theseira

No 17015, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper seeks to explain the key two stylized facts of fundamental reforms to social security systems worldwide: Why have so many countries reformed when traditional systems seem, at first glance, to have a higher probability of delivering a secure retirement income? Why have these reforms been larger in developing countries facing less severe demographic problems? We show that an OLG voter model can answer both questions. Larger reforms are motivated by a fundamental breakdown in intergenerational trust while smaller reforms are caused by a lack of trust in the ability of the government to save. Empirical analysis seems to support the model.

JEL-codes: H0 H55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age
Note: AG PE POL
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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