The German Retirement Benefit Formula: Drawbacks and Alternatives

Friedrich Breyer and Mathias Kifmann ()

No 326, Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin from DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research

Abstract: In this paper we identify a number of objectionable features of the German retirement benefit formula. We show that groups of insureds with higher than average life expectancy, in particular high-income groups, are subsidized by the rest of the membership because the formula neglects differences in group-specific life expectancy. Furthermore, the current formula leads to undesirable long-run effects if the earnings ceilings is raised, mandatory membership is extended, life expectancy rises or the rate of population growth declines. We present two alternative formulas which take group-specific life expectancy into account. In particular, a return-rate formula which rewards each Euro of contributions with the internal rate of return of the pay-as-you-go pension system proves to be superior to the current formula. Wir diskutieren eine Reihe von Problemen der Rentenformel in der deutschen gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung (GRV). Wir zeigen, dass Bev¨olkerungsgruppen mit ¨uberdurchschnittlicher Lebenserwartung, insbesondere die besser Verdienenden, von den ¨ubrigen Versicherten subventioniert werden, da die Rentenformel Unterschiede in den gruppenspezifischen Lebenserwartungen nicht ber¨ucksichtigt. Außerdem f¨uhrt die Formel zu unerw¨unschten langfristigen Wirkungen, wenn die Beitragsbemessungsgrenze erh¨oht oder die Pflichtmitgliedschaft ausgeweitet wird, wenn die Lebenserwartung steigt oder das Bev¨olkerungswachstum abnimmt. Wir schlagen zwei Alternativen vor, die die gruppenspezifische Lebenserwartung ber¨ucksichtigen. Wir zeigen, dass insbesondere die Interne-Rendite-Formel, die jeden Euro an Beitr¨agen mit der internen Rendite des Umlageverfahrens belohnt, gegen¨uber der gegenw¨artigen Formel ¨uberlegen ist.

Keywords: pay-as-you-go pension systems; implicit taxation; intra- and intergenerational equity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H22 H55 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 19 p.
Date: 2003
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Journal Article: The German Retirement Benefit Formula: Drawbacks and Alternatives (2004)
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