Individual Choice in Social Protection: The Case of Swiss Pensions

Monika Queisser and Edward Whitehouse ()

No 11, OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers from OECD Publishing

Abstract: In most OECD countries, the structure of the pension system does not give much potential for individual choice. The Swiss pension system is a particularly interesting case in this respect. Switzerland relies heavily on privately-managed, fully-funded pensions, which employers are obliged to provide. The employees have only a very limited range of individual choice within this system and there has been increasing political pressure to give members more control over their benefits. More choice would increase competition among funds, lead to higher returns on investment of pension funds, improve customer services and result in higher member satisfaction due to more tailored benefit packages. This paper examines the choices currently available to members of occupational pension schemes in Switzerland and how they are making use of these options. It goes on to consider which expansions in choice might be desirable and what obstacles may be in the way of such changes. A particular ... Dans la plupart des pays de l'OCDE, la structure du système de pensions ne laisse pas une grande marge de manoeuvre aux individus. Le système de pensions suisse est particulièrement intéressant à cet égard. La Suisse s'appuie largement sur des pensions à gestion privée, entièrement capitalisées, que les employeurs sont tenus de mettre en place. Les salariés n'ont que des possibilités de choix très limitées dans ce système et les pressions politiques se font de plus en plus vives pour que l'on donne un plus large pouvoir de contrôle aux membres sur leurs prestations. Une plus grande liberté de choix augmenterait la concurrence entre les fonds de pension, conduirait à un meilleur rendement sur les investissements des fonds, améliorerait le service rendu au consommateur et se traduirait par une satisfaction accrue des membres du fait que l'offre de prestations serait mieux adaptée à la situation de chacun. Ce document examine les choix actuellement accessibles aux membres des ...

JEL-codes: G23 G28 J26 J32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003-08-06
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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