February 2025

Kenya. The transformative approaches for broader pension coverage

Kenya’s pension penetration rate, at 26 percent, is the third lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, trailing far behind countries such as South Africa, which boasts a 66 percent reach. This disparity underscores a major financial vulnerability for many Kenyans, particularly in the informal sector where pension schemes are either underutilised or deemed inconsequential. The rising cost of living and limited incomes have further constrained the ability of many to save, leaving a substantial portion of the population without a reliable safety net...

South Korea’s fertility rate increases for first time in nine years amid marriage surge

South Korea’s birthrate rose for the first time in nearly a decade, preliminary data showed Wednesday, raising hopes that the country has started to turn a corner on its demographic crisis. The average number of babies per woman increased from 0.72 in 2023 to 0.75 last year, still the lowest in the world and far below the replacement rate of 2.1. SIGNALS Birthrate supported by surge in marriages after government measures A spike in marriages post-pandemic may be one factor driving the increase...

How should policy-makers think about longevity?

As people live longer, public policy and public spending should pivot towards ensuring longer, healthier and more active lives. This includes a shift towards preventative healthcare and lifelong education. Economists have been warning of ageing societies for decades. Globally, falling birth rates and rising life expectancy are leading to an increasing proportion of older people. In the UK in 1950, one in nine of the population was over 65 years old; today, it is around one in five. That share...

US. Public Pension Plans Reach 5-Year High of 83.1% Funded

Public pension funds’ funded status has risen to a five-year high amid equity market strength, according to a study from the National Conference of Public Employees Retirement Systems. The annual NCPERS retirement study, which the organization has conducted since 2011, found that the average public pension has seen its funded status reach 83.1% through the first half of 2024, typically when the fiscal years for these plans ended. The report also found that discount rates have decreased to an average of 6.67%...

UK. U-turn shows pitfalls of unpicking pensions triple-lock

A pensions timebomb is ticking on the Isle of Man and the self-governing island off the UK's west coast came very close to defusing it last week. Like the UK, the island protects state pensions with the triple lock, which automatically increases the state pension each year by the maximum of three measures: price inflation, average earnings or 2.5%. The Isle of Man's government wanted to scrap the triple lock for some pensioners in its budget last week. But ministers were forced...

German economist suggests tapping into VAT to stabilise first pillar’s contribution rate

German economist and pensions expert Bert Rürup has proposed channelling one percentage point from VAT to the first-pillar pension system, a form of public subsidy to stabilise the contribution rate of the pay-as-you-go pension system, in an article published by Handelsblatt newspaper. One percentage point from VAT would mean channelling €16bn per year to the first-pillar pension system, he added. Rürup’s idea is akin to a model chosen in Switzerland under the reform of the first-pillar AVH21, with the increase of...

Long-running surveys help researchers track trends in aging

One of the largest recipients of National Institutes of Health funding at Johns Hopkins University is the Center on Aging and Health, an interdisciplinary effort spanning medicine and public health. And for good reason: There will soon be more adults aged 65 and older than children aged 5 and younger, according to U.S. census data. "This critical juncture accentuates the important nature of our research, which enables older adults to live longer, healthier, and more independent lives," Jennifer Schrack, director of the Center...

The Biggest Challenges Facing Older Americans: Insights from the Aging Advisory Group

Adults aged 50 and older are the fastest-growing age group of those experiencing homelessness, making up nearly half of the single-adult homeless population, which is estimated to triple over the next decade. Older adults are especially vulnerable to becoming homeless, as many live on fixed incomes that are insufficient to cover the cost of housing and other expenses. Aging Advisory Group To address the rapid increase of older adults experiencing homelessness, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in partnership with the RRF...

UK. Pension transfer times continue to fall as volumes increase

Simpler pension transfers took an average of 10.5 days to complete in 2024, while the volume of transfers increased, the latest Origo data has revealed. The overall average pension transfer figure, which allows for slightly more complex transfers where providers may need to rely on third parties for additional information, was 12.3 days in 2024. It also found that around half of all transfers were completed in just under seven working days, while for the providers opted in to share their...

Why a significant portion of Nigeria’s workforce remains vulnerable to old-age poverty – Aiku

Opeyemi Aiku is a seasoned investment management professional with over 19 years of experience in multi-asset portfolio management, high-net-worth advisory, pension fund oversight, and financial planning. She specialises in fixed income, equities, and alternative investments, applying her expertise in risk management, research, and strategic planning to help individuals and institutions achieve long-term financial stability and growth. As Senior Investment Manager at TotalEnergies EP Nigeria CPFA Limited, she oversees the Fixed Income & Research desk, ensuring fund portfolios align with strategic...