May 2020

An Equilibrium Theory of Retirement Plan Design

By Ryan Bubb and Patrick L. Warren We develop an equilibrium theory of employer-sponsored retirement plan design using a behavioral contract theory approach. The operation of the labor market results in retirement plans that generally cater to, rather than correct, workers' mistakes. Our theory provides new explanations for a range of facts about retirement plan design, including the use of employer matching contributions and the use of default contribution rates in automatic enrollment plans that lower many workers' savings....

Desempleo en Chile sube a 8,2% en primer trimestre, el mayor aumento en una década

El desempleo en Chile volvió a subir en el primer trimestre de este año y se ubicó en 8,2% de la fuerza laboral, su mayor salto en un década, informó este jueves el Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE). La cifra representa un incremento de 1,0% respecto a igual período del año anterior y es la tasa más alta de desempleo en Chile desde el trimestre junio-agosto de 2010 (8,4%). El guarismo considera sólo en el mes de marzo los...

República Dominicana. ADAFP recordó que los fondos de pensiones no son un fondo de emergencia

La Asociación Dominicana de Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones (ADAFP) insistió este jueves en que los fondos de pensiones no son en ningún caso un fondo de emergencia, ni de cesantía, ni de desempleo, ante la aparición de un nuevo proyecto de ley que cursa en el Senado que busca liberar el 20% de esos fondos para los afiliados. ADAFP advirtió que de aprobada la iniciativa, autoría del senador peledeísta Dionis Sánchez, se generaría inestabilidad económica, inflación, desempleo, incremento...

Chile. Ministro Palacios en picada contra proyecto que elimina las AFP: “Es una expropiación, sería bueno que lo dijeran con todas sus letras”

El ministro de Economía, Lucas Palacios, criticó el proyecto de ley presentado por senadores de la oposición el cual busca nacionalizar los fondos de pensiones y elimina las AFP del sistema de pensiones. En conversación con T13 Radio, el secretario de Estado calificó la iniciativa de los senadores Ximena Órdenes (PPD), Yasna Provoste (DC), Alejandro Navarro (País Progresista), Alfonso de Urresti (PS) y Juan Ignacio Latorre (RD), como una "muy mala idea", agregando que ese no es el camino...

Peru takes another stab at major pension reform as AFP bill forced through

Peru’s government has submitted a bill for urgent consideration that establishes a special commission tasked with proposing ways to improve the country’s private and public pension systems. The commission will look at areas such as sustainability, pension size, coverage and demographics. President Martín Vizcarra (pictured) has previously called for an overhaul. Read also OECD pension chief says reforms must continue, urges crisis policy caution The body will comprise representatives of congress, the executive, the central bank and financial services...

US. How The Pandemic Is Making The Retirement Crisis Worse — And What To Do About It

The coronavirus crisis has torn the Band-Aid off the financial fragility of many Americans. With an unemployment rate between 15% and 20%, bank accounts draining, and the Dow down 23% in the first quarter, things are dreadful for millions of people. But Americans in their 50s and 60s nearing retirement may be among the most endangered. Many already weren’t on track for retirement, with little or no savings. Now, the COVID-19 downturn threatens to further undermine America’s vulnerable public...

ATP, PFA assets plummet as coronavirus hits

ATP, Hilleroed, Denmark, posted a -26% investment return for the three months ended March 31, as market fluctuations hit international equities and inflation-related securities. An update Thursday said the pension fund's return was equal to a 24.7 billion Danish kroner ($3.6 billion) loss, compared with a gain of 16.8 billion kroner for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The fourth quarter 2019 return was not available. Assets increased 0.4% to 889.5 billion kroner in the three months ended...

Behind the Idea: SmartPension

The auto-enrolment pension provider Smart Pension, today announced a new partnership with London-based FinTech DueDil, enabling Smart to deliver its market-leading platform as a service model. The company is known for playing its part in transforming the pension sector through cloud-based technology. It has allowed Smart to quickly adapt to suit the government’s response to COVID-19 including employer support for ongoing contributions. Darren Philp is the Director of Policy and Communications at Smart Pension and Sam Barton is the...

Canada. Pension plan regulatory relief and COVID-19 – additional measures announced

In our most recent posts, we highlighted some of the regulatory relief available to administrators of Ontario registered pension plans and plans registered in jurisdictions other than Ontario as a result of COVID-19. In this post, we highlight additional relief measures that have been announced for administrators and sponsors of registered pension plans, including the announcement of significant funding relief for sponsors of federally regulated defined benefit registered pension plans. Federal On April 15, 2020, the federal government announced...

April 2020

OECD pension chief says reforms must continue, urges crisis policy caution

Global pension reform initiatives that got underway prior to the coronavirus outbreak must continue – but implementation needs careful reconsideration. That, along with concerns over the potential long-term impact of pension freedom and contribution relief measures, was among the key points raised during a webinar hosted by industry organisation the International Federations of Pension Funds Administrators (FIAP). Chile – which has a defined-contribution, or private scheme, and a solidarity pillar – is among those that have embarked along the...