May 2024

Live Longer and Healthier: Impact of Pension Income for Low-Income Retirees

By Chiara Malavasi & Han Ye We estimate the effect of additional pension income on mortality outcomes by exploring the eli- gibility criteria of a German program subsidizing the pensions of low-wage workers. Using novel administrative data, we find that eligibility leads to a 2-month delay in age at death (censored at 75). Survey evidence suggests that additional pension income improves both mental and physical health. In addition, individuals feel less financially constrained and are more optimistic about their future....

Nigeria. Retired police officers protest unpaid pension in Abuja

RETIRED police officers in Nigeria under the contributory pension scheme, on Tuesday, May 21, expressed their displeasure over several months of unpaid pensions. The retired officers stormed the National Assembly in Abuja, to protest the “severe hardships” they had faced due to the alleged failure of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) to pay their entitlements. The retirees representing various state chapters called on the federal government to remove them from the Contributory Pension Scheme. The retirees, seen with various placards, lamented being...

The stunning financial benefits of working just one year longer

By Jordan Rosenfeld   By the time you reach your mid-fifties you might already be looking ahead to that wonderful day when you can retire, even if it’s a decade away. It’s natural to feel a sense of urgency when you’ve been working a long time and, by the time you hit 60, you might barely be able to contain yourself from jumping ship at 62 — the earliest age you can take Social Security. However, according to Chris Urban — a CFP and...

Middle-aged and Older Adult Employment and the Perceived Risk of Running Out of Money during COVID-19: A Dynamic Panel Data Analysis

By Andy Sharma  The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) adversely impacted the health of middle-aged and older adults and altered their economic outlook. Several national polls revealed older adults felt stress about money and many reported difficulties in paying expenses during 2021. While such descriptive reports have raised awareness, peer-reviewed studies utilizing panel data can offer additional insight. As such, the purpose of this study was to contribute to this growing literature by examining the demographic, economic, and health factors...

Pensioen SPECULOOS: Lessons from Brazil for Belgium

By Arun Muralidhar A commonly-accepted retirement goal for a healthy pension is for it to sustain the relatively higher standard-of-living of the latter part of one’s working life throughout retirement. A recent innovation implemented by Brazil in January 2023 might provide a solution to the pension challenges faced by Belgium, and more importantly, satisfy the key goals identified by Belgium Government. We recommend Belgium create and issue an innovative new bond – SPECial ULtra-long Obligatie (PensiOen) Salarisstook (SPECULOOS), known previously...

Venezuelan National Assembly Approves Pension Protection Bill

The National Assembly of Venezuela approved on Thursday in the first discussion, the Social Security Pension Protection Bill, after it was presented to that body by the executive vice president of the South American country, Delcy Rodriguez. "We wanted to bring this bill that has 13 articles that seek special protection, through contributions and contributions of private business for the protection of pensions against criminal blockade"said Rodríguez and also recalled that the country’s income from the blockade was impacted by...

April 2024

Social security developments and trends – Europe 2024

By International Social Security Association Europe has historically been home to some of the most advanced social security systems in the world. Many countries in the region provide comprehensive, adequate protection against common life cycle and labour market risks for the vast majority of the population. Widespread protection of individuals over the life course enables social security systems to play a key role in ensuring economic and social stability in the face of large-scale shocks. Despite these broad protections, notable...

Strength in Diversity: What We Can Learn from BC’s Target-benefit Plans

By Barry Gros With the significant decline in single-employer defined-benefit (DB) pension plans in the private sector, it’s important to understand other alternatives. One such alternative is the target-benefit plan. The regulation of target-benefit plans (TBPs) in all provinces across Canada can be made more straightforward and effective using lessons learned from real-life experiences. With target-benefit plans currently being more prominent in the province of British Columbia than any other province, it is useful to take a closer look at these...

Wealth Creators or Inheritors? Unpacking the Gender Wealth Gap from Bottom to Top and Young to Old

By Eva Sierminska, Charlotte Bartels & Carsten Schroeder There is growing interest in understanding how gender influences the accumulation of wealth. While prior studies have focused on labor-related determinants, our research focuses on inheritances and gifts. Using unique data that over samples the top 1% of wealth holders in Germany, we show that the gender wealth gap is small for individuals up to age 40, then widens, and declines for those past retirement age. Transfer amounts and their timing are...

Luxembourg: EU Blue Card: New Increased Thresholds For Minimum Salary

A recent regulatory update may impact your strategy for recruiting international talent. On 20 March 2024, the regulation of 15 March 2024 setting the gross average annual salary needed to calculate the minimum salary level for a highly qualified worker 1 was published in mémorial A123 (the "Regulation"). It adjusts the annual threshold for the minimum salary required for highly qualified third-country workers who want to work in Luxembourg with an EU Blue Card. Key points From an immigration perspective, third-country...