Optimal Social Security Design

David Miles and James Sefton ()

No 3290, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This Paper considers the optimal design of public pension provision for the retired and income support for those of working age. We consider social security systems that differ in terms of the level of benefits, degree of means testing and the nature of contributions. We aim to find which system maximises the expected utility of agents behind an initial veil of ignorance about their future labour productivity. We also explore whether systems which differ from the (ex-ante) optimal one could be reformed. We ask whether agents who already know what their productivity is would vote for a move towards a system that they would have found optimal from behind a veil of ignorance about their own position on the wages ladder. We also consider which systems could be sustained in an economy where reform is decided by majority voting. We find a substantial role for means testing in optimal welfare systems. We also find the possibility of multiple equilbria in welfare systems.

Keywords: Social security; Pensions; Optimal taxes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H10 H20 H30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002-03
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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