While not attempting to train readers as professional economists, this book aims to provide a secure grounding in the theory and practice of economics insofar as it deals with pension matters. From reading this book, the user will understand:
* The key types of pension scheme
* The role of pensions in maximizing individual lifetime welfare
* The role of pensions in individual savings and retirement decisions
* The role and consequences of the pension plan from the company's viewpoint
* The role of pensions in promoting aggregate savings
* The role of pensions and retirement in overlapping generations models
* The economics of ageing and intergenerational accounting
* The social welfare implications of pensions
* The lessons of behavioural economics for pensions
Preface. 1 Introduction.
1.1 What is pension economics?
1.2 Types of pension scheme.
1.3 Conclusions.
2 Individual Pension Decision Making.
2.1 The lifecycle model.
2.2 Pensions and savings.
2.3 Pensions and retirement decisions.
2.4 Empirical studies testing the validity of the lifecycle model.
2.5 The Feldstein lifecycle model with induced retirement.
2.6 Conclusions.
3 Corporate Pension Decision Making.
3.1 The provision of pensions by corporations.
3.2 The role of pensions in employment contracts.
3.3 The nature of corporate pension liabilities.
3.4 Quitting and mandatory retirement.
3.5 Tax and pension fund policy.
3.6 Agency costs in pension schemes and pension funds.
3.7 Conclul3*