Public spending Archives - Pension Policy International

16OctOctober 16, 2026

Germany. Parliament approves pension plan for children

German lawmakers approve pension savings for children Germany's parliament has approved a scheme giving children aged six to 18 a monthly state payment of €10 ($11) toward private retirement savings. The legislation still needs approval from the Bundesrat, which represents Germany's states. Lawmakers from the governing conservatives and center-left Social Democrats (SPD) hailed the decision as historic. Michael Thews of the SPD said it would help many people build adequate retirement savings. Fritz Güntzler, finance spokesperson for the center-right Christian Democratic Union...

October 16, 2026

NewsGermany, Public spending, savings

01OctOctober 1, 2026

Bank of Ghana personnel costs more than double to GH¢3.29bn in three years as staff numbers rise

Figures contained in the bank’s annual reports and audited financial statements show that personnel costs increased from GH¢1.62 billion in 2022 to GH¢3.29 billion in 2025, representing growth of about 103 per cent. By comparison, reported staff strength rose from 2,206 to 2,691 during the same period, an increase of approximately 22 per cent. The figures show a widening gap between the growth in the bank’s workforce and the cost of maintaining its personnel. Personnel expenditure increased from GH¢1.26 billion in 2021...

October 1, 2026

NewsGhana, Public Pensions, Public spending

29JulJuly 29, 2026

EU. Pension expenditure rises by 6.2% in July, reaching a record high of €14.432 million

Pension expenditure reached €14.4319 billion in July, up 6.2% compared with the same month last year, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, which include the adjustment approved by the Government for 2026. In the seventh month of the year, 10,517,634 pensions were paid to more than 9.5 million people. Specifically, there were 6.73 million retirement pensions, more than 2.3 million widow’s and widower’s pensions under the Social Security system, 1.06 million permanent disability pensions, 336,294 orphan’s pensions and 46,895 pensions paid to...

July 29, 2026

NewsAdequacy, EU, Public spending

30JunJune 30, 2026

Economists Say Growing Government Pension Costs Are Putting Malaysia’s Economy At Risk

Economists have described the government's proposed revamp of the civil service retirement scheme as a vital structural reform According to the New Straits Times, the shift is seen as crucial to preventing rising pension liabilities from undermining the country's long-term fiscal health. The government is currently refining the proposed mechanism, known as the "contributory permanent appointment" scheme, to balance long-term fiscal sustainability with the need to attract and retain top-tier talent. Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the current...

June 30, 2026

News2026, Malaysia, Public Pensions, Public spending

16JunJune 16, 2026

Reforms could relieve German budget by up to €60 billion, Ifo says

Germany's financial situation could be improved by up to €60 billion ($70 billion) annually by 2030 with a series of economic ‌reforms, calculations by the Ifo Institute showed on Tuesday. The study, commissioned by the employer-funded think tank New Social Free Market Initiative, shows that the government could generate around €54 billion through changes to pension ⁠insurance, parental allowance and subsidies. An additional €6 billion could be generated through growth-promoting investments at the federal level. “To achieve that, reform packages need to...

June 16, 2026

NewsGermany, Public spending

26MayMay 26, 2026

Spain. Pension spending marks a new high of 14,366 million in May, 6.1% more year-on-year

Social Security has allocated in this month of May a historic disbursement of 14,365.8 million euros to pay the ordinary payroll of contributory pensions, which represents an increase of 6.1% compared to the same period in 2025, as communicated this Tuesday by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations. This payroll incorporates the revaluation of pensions approved by the Government for 2026. In general, the increase applied is 2.7%, in line with the average CPI recorded between December 2024...

May 26, 2026

NewsPension Reform, Public spending, Social Security, Spain

16JanJanuary 16, 2026

Cash Transfers and Socioeconomic Behavior among Older Adults:,Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design

By Anh Tuyet Nguyen & Hiroyuki Yamada The rapid aging of populations has prompted the introduction of social pension programs aimed at preserving the welfare of the elderly. However, adverse socioeconomic behaviors may dampen the intended policy effects. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, this study examines the impact of social pension receipt on expenditure patterns and material hardship among older adults aged 80 year or older in Vietnam. We find that social pension increases the risk of material hardship...

January 16, 2026

Articles, System Sustainability2026, Aging, Public spending, Social Pensions

17OctOctober 17, 2024

UK government faces “extra GBP100 million bill” for state pension rise

The UK government is facing an extra GBP100 million bill for next year's state pension increases following revised official figures published on Tuesday, according to a former pensions minister. Under the triple lock guarantee, the state pension increases every April in line with whichever is the highest of earnings growth in the year from May to July of the previous year, CPI (Consumer Prices Index) inflation in September of the previous year, or 2.5%. With inflation running at more subdued levels,...

October 17, 2024

NewsPublic spending, State pension, UK

09OctOctober 9, 2024

French lawmakers weigh political risk of curbing boomers’ costly pensions

France's government has put the country's explosive pensions issue back on the agenda as it seeks to reduce a gaping budget hole. But this time, it wants pensioners to contribute to belt-tightening efforts themselves. It also wants lawmakers used to pandering to older voters to back it. Economists and analysts say that if France really wants to tackle its bloated public spending, the baby-boom generation - those born between 1946 and 1964 - must take a hit to their pensions,...

October 9, 2024

NewsFrance, Public Pensions, Public spending

25JunJune 25, 2024

Spain Goes Into Debt To Fill The Pension Pot

Can you imagine taking out a loan to open a bank deposit? Well, that is what Spain is doing to fill the pension fund with 7 billion. Last year, the pension system needed to borrow 50 billion from the state to meet pension payments. This 50 billion shortfall is exactly 3.6% of GDP. And it is exactly the figure for the Spanish public deficit in 2023. But that is no obstacle for the Government to have decided to endow the...

June 25, 2024

NewsFunding, Public spending, Spain

October 2026

Germany. Parliament approves pension plan for children

Bank of Ghana personnel costs more than double to GH¢3.29bn in three years as staff numbers rise

July 2026

EU. Pension expenditure rises by 6.2% in July, reaching a record high of €14.432 million

June 2026

Economists Say Growing Government Pension Costs Are Putting Malaysia’s Economy At Risk

Reforms could relieve German budget by up to €60 billion, Ifo says

May 2026

January 2026

October 2024

UK government faces “extra GBP100 million bill” for state pension rise

French lawmakers weigh political risk of curbing boomers’ costly pensions

June 2024

Spain Goes Into Debt To Fill The Pension Pot