NDC Schemes and Heterogeneity in Longevity: Proposals for Redesign

Robert Holzmann, Jennifer Alonso-García (), Heloise Labit-Hardy and Andres M. Villegas
Additional contact information
Jennifer Alonso-García: ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR)
Heloise Labit-Hardy: ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR)
Andres M. Villegas: UNSW Sydney

No 11193, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Strong and rising empirical evidence across countries finds that longevity is highly heterogeneous in key socioeconomic characteristics, including income. A positive relationship between lifetime income and life expectancy at retirement amounts to a straight tax/subsidy mechanism when the average cohort life expectancy is applied for annuity calculation, as done under nonfinancial defined contribution (NDC) schemes. Such a regressive redistribution and the ensuing labor market distortion put into doubt main features of the NDC scheme and call for alternative benefit designs to compensate for the heterogeneity. This paper explores five key mechanisms of compensation: individualized annuities; individualized contribution rates/account allocations; a two-tier contribution structure with socialized and individual rate structure; and two supplementary approaches under the two-tier approach to deal with the income distribution tails, and the distortions above a ceiling and below a floor. Using unique data from England and Wales and the United States, the analysis indicates that both individualized annuities and a two-tier contribution scheme are feasible and effective and thus promising policy options. To this end, however, a de-pooling of gender will be required.

Keywords: tax/subsidy structure; proxied life expectancy; two-tier contribution structure; gender de-pooling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D9 G22 H55 J13 J14 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28 pages
Date: 2017-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age and nep-pbe
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published - published in: R. Holzmann, E. Palmer, R. Palacios. S. Sacchi (eds). Progress and Challenges of Nonfinancial Defined Contribution Pension (NDC) Schemes, Volume 1: Addressing Marginalization, Polarization, and the Labor Market, Chapter 14. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.

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Related works:
Working Paper: NDC schemes and heterogeneity in longevity: proposals for redesign (2020)
Working Paper: NDC Schemes and Heterogeneity in Longevity: Proposals for Redesign (2019)
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