Asset Allocation for Government Pension Funds in Pakistan:A Case for International Diversification

Fahd Rehman

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Reforms have begun in Pakistan to sustain the funded pension scheme for government-operated pension schemes such as the Employees Old Age Benefit Institution (EOBI). Presently, the EOBI operates its own fund and invests most of its assets in government-backed securities which are basically interest-bearing debt instruments. Although the returns on the EOBI’s fund have been high for a short period due to higher interest rates and minimum pension distributions, this trend is not likely to continue. Funded pension schemes depend heavily on portfolio performance because risk is transferred to contributors. Therefore, asset allocation becomes considerably important. The purpose of this study is to determine optimal asset allocation and the role of international diversification specifically for the EOBI’s funds and generally for newly created funded pension schemes in Pakistan. The article analyzes the potential benefits accrued through international investments based on historical returns over almost five decades with varying degrees of risk aversion coefficients. Varying degrees of risk may allow policymakers to incorporate their strategies for future asset behavior and take timely action to counter the potential threat of aging, demographic shifts, and liabilities and to ensure decent benefits for pensioners.

Keywords: Asset allocation; international diversification; pension fund; Pakistan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G11 G23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-07-19
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age and nep-cwa
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Published in The Lahore Journal of Economics Summer 2010.15:1(2010): pp. 127-151

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