June 2026
26Jun

The Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth – Report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

By Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights The Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth (Addendum to report A/HRC/62/42) provides advice to States on the eradication of extreme poverty in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The Roadmap aims to assist States in implementing the Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, adopted by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 21/11 and which the General Assembly welcomed in its resolution 67/164 of 20 December 2012. The Roadmap...

June 26, 2026
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15Jun

Retirement Wealth Across Europe: A Country-by-Country Comparison

Retirement wealth differs greatly across European nations, affecting living standards in ways that go beyond what pension income alone can provide, according to the European Central Bank's Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) released in mid-2023. In certain countries, older households possess more than 30 times the wealth of their counterparts elsewhere, illustrating how housing, pensions, and family assistance influence financial security in later years. Within the euro area, households aged 65 to 74 have a median net wealth of EUR185,300....

June 15, 2026
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08Jun

Why Hasn’t the Labor Shortage Pushed Up Real Wages?

For a dozen years, the Bank of Japan, the government, and stockbrokers have all been promising that a labor shortage in Japan will soon push up wages. And that faith is behind the BOJ’s decision that it’s time to normalize interest rates. Here’s the argument. Due to the declining working-age population, companies in 2014 offered 1.2 jobs for every job seeker. By 2019, the ratio had climbed to 1.6 and is now 1.2. So, it is argued: when demand...

June 8, 2026
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03Jun

How to turn retirement savings into reliable income

Retirement planning ultimately comes down to one question: How can you turn your savings into income that supports the life you want? The challenge isn’t just saving enough—it’s whether those savings can provide reliable income tailored to your needs and priorities while accounting for the risks of unpredictable markets and life events. Why turning retirement savings into income can be difficult Retirement planning is inherently personal, such that no two retirements look exactly alike. Two investors with similar account balances may...

June 3, 2026
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01Jun

Vietnam to raise pensions and social security benefits from July 1

Around 3.4 million pensioners and social insurance beneficiaries will receive an 8% increase under the government's latest social welfare measures. Vietnam will implement a series of social welfare adjustments from July 1, increasing pensions, social insurance benefits and assistance payments for millions of people as part of efforts to offset inflation and improve living standards. Under Government Decree No. 161/2026, the statutory base salary will increase from VND2.34 million ($92) to VND2.53 million ($100) per month from July 1. The adjustment...

June 1, 2026
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May 2026
25May

US. Aging in place comes with major financial hurdles

More than 75% of older Americans say they want to “age in place,” or live in their home for as long as possible. Sounds reasonable. But 40% have doubts about whether that's possible, according to a survey by AARP. For many, financial constraints will force them to downsize, relocate to a less expensive city or state or move in with family or into an independent retirement or assisted living community. Money issues such as the cost of age-proofing a home, the...

May 25, 2026
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20May

Europe’s wage and pension gaps reveal deep east-west divide

Who earns most?: Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Iceland top average wage rankings, while Eastern and Southern nations remain at the lower end. Pensions vs. costs: In 20 of 39 European countries, pensions fail to cover living costs, with the worst gaps in Georgia, Albania, and Ukraine. Minimum wage spread: Luxembourg, Ireland, and Germany lead nominal minimum wages, but purchasing power narrows the gap between east and west. OECD’s 2026 wage report shows stark disparities The OECD’s 2026 data reveals average gross wages ranging from €18,590 in Turkey...

May 20, 2026
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18May

Retirement without guaranteed income streams may mean near-total asset wipeout

Retirement may not unfold the way most people (or planners) expect, and new research from the suggests that without a reliable income floor, the consequences can be severe. The Employee Benefit Research Institute study tracked how household net non-housing assets shifted across a roughly three-decade window using longitudinal data from the 1992–2022 Health and Retirement Study. What it found challenges the conventional image of retirement as a steady, predictable spend-down of accumulated wealth. Asset drawdown varied dramatically depending on how much a retiree...

May 18, 2026
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15May

New Economics of Retirement: New Solutions Provide a Ray of Hope

By Goldman Sachs In our annual Retirement Survey & Insights Report, we are pleased to present findings that may challenge conventional wisdom about retirement preparedness in America. While many acknowledge the looming retirement crisis, the traditional advice to simply save more may fail to account for the complex and evolving realities faced by millions of Americans. This year’s report introduces the "new economics of retirement,” as we grapple with the question “does the retirement math still work?” The report illustrates how rising costs...

May 15, 2026
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13May

Europe’s demographic challenge: how to guarantee intergenerational fairness in pensions and beyond

Engaging younger generations earlier  The core challenge is timing. Pension planning often begins too late, even though early contributions are crucial. Yet for many young people, retirement feels too distant to prioritise.  Speakers highlighted financial literacy and pension awareness as key tools but stressed that education must go hand in hand with practical solutions. Well-designed systems, such as automatic enrolment, can significantly increase participation, while pension tracking tools can help individuals keep oversight in increasingly mobile careers.  Addressing persistent inequalities   Fairness between generations...

May 13, 2026
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