March 2025
03Mar

Taiwan. Record-breaking pension fund earnings distributed

People enrolled in the new Labor Pension Fund received record-breaking boosts to their pensions, as gains made through the fund’s investments were distributed across accounts today, the Bureau of Labor Insurance announced. Investments made by the fund netted record gains of NT$698.97 billion (US$21.25 billion) last year, the bureau said. A total of 12.92 million people enrolled in the fund had their pensions boosted, 200,000 more than the previous year, the bureau said. Bureau of Labor Insurance signage is pictured in Taipei...

March 3, 2025
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February 2025
28Feb

UK Pension Fund Pulls £28bn From State Street Amid ESG Policy Divisions

The People’s Pension, the UK’s largest commercial master trust, has withdrawn £28bn from State Street, prioritizing sustainability, active stewardship, and long-term value creation. The fund awarded a £20bn equity mandate to Amundi and £8bn in fixed-income assets to Invesco, both sharing the People’s Pension’s commitment to responsible investment. This decision comes amid the European Commission’s recent Omnibus package, which narrows corporate sustainability reporting legislation in the EU, and a retreat from ESG initiatives by US firms under the Trump...

February 28, 2025
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28Feb

US. Public pension funds allocate more to fixed income, lower return assumptions — NCPERS

Public pension funds are increasing allocations to fixed income and continuing to lower their investment assumptions, according to a study from the National Conference on Public Employees Retirement Systems. The study, which reflects data from 201 U.S. public pension funds that collectively oversee more than $3 trillion in assets, shows those plans that reported data as of June 30 had an average investment return of 9.5%, and the trend toward lower investment return assumptions continues with an average discount rate...

February 28, 2025
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28Feb

AI robots may hold key to nursing Japan’s ageing population

Recently in Tokyo an AI-driven robot leaned over a man lying on his back and gently put a hand on his knee and another on a shoulder and rolled him onto his side -- a manoeuvre used to change diapers or prevent bedsores in the elderly. The 150-kg (330 lb) artificial intelligence-driven humanoid robot called AIREC is a prototype future "caregiver" for Japan's rapidly ageing population and chronic shortage of aged-care workers. "Given our highly advanced ageing society and declining births,...

February 28, 2025
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27Feb

‘Unique financial pressures’ threaten Gen Z retirement prospects

"Unique financial pressures" are threatening the retirement prospects of Gen Z (ages 18-29), according to a new report from the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) The report, The Concerns of Gen Z, found that despite "universal benefits" from automatic enrolment (AE) in workplace pension schemes, young people's ability to save is being constrained by economic uncertainty, high student debt, unaffordable housing, and changing employment patterns. According to the report, these pressures have led many to prioritise short-term financial flexibility, often at the expense of...

February 27, 2025
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27Feb

Chart of The Month: Declining Global Fertility Rates

The global fertility rate is expected to decline to 2.8 children born per female in 2025 from 3.1 a decade ago. Among the top 20 economies, the rate will fall to just 1.7, well below the replacement level of 2.1 (the level at which a population replaces itself naturally). Saudi Arabia is projected to have the highest fertility rate in this group, driven by cultural values, historical pronatalist policies, and social factors. Traditional views have promoted larger families, but...

February 27, 2025
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27Feb

India. Voluntary Pension Scheme On The Cards; Open To All, No Job Or Employment Needed: Report

To provide financial stability outside of conventional job-based plans, the Centre is developing a Universal Pension Scheme. The scheme aims to streamline current pension plans and increase their accessibility, especially for unorganized workers, traders, and self-employed people, according to an ET report. The scheme will be available to everyone, regardless of their job or business. The ET report states that the Labour Ministry has initiated talks on the voluntary and contributory pension plan that would enable people from all backgrounds to...

February 27, 2025
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27Feb

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...

February 27, 2025
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27Feb

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...

February 27, 2025
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26Feb

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...

February 26, 2025
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