Pension Reform in Chile
Paper Session
Friday, Jan. 6, 2017 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Hyatt Regency Chicago, Regency C
- Chair: Nicholas Barr, London School of Economics and Political Science
The Chilean Pension System: Evidence and Proposals From a Presidential Advisory Commission
Abstract
The Presidential Advisory Commission on the Chilean Pension System was established in April 2014 and delivered its Report in September 2015. The Commission comprised 24 national and international members with the objectives of assessing the system and setting out proposals to improve matters. A significant part of the Commission’s efforts was a process of public consultation. This paper summarizes the work done by the Commission, the main features of its evaluation of the Chilean Pension System and its proposals – 58 specific proposals that commanded majority support and three global proposals about how to finance benefits. The paper concludes by analyzing future prospects of current discussion within government.Optimal versus Default Longevity Income Annuities
Abstract
Most defined contribution pension plans pay benefits as lump sums, yet US regulators have recently encouraged firms to protect retirees from outliving their assets by converting a portion of their plan balances into longevity income annuities (LIA). These are deferred annuities which initiate payouts not later than age 85 and continue for life, and they provide an effective way to hedge systematic (individual) longevity risk for a relatively low price. Using a life cycle portfolio framework, we measure the welfare improvements from including LIAs in the menu of plan payout choices, accounting for mortality heterogeneity by education and sex. We find thatintroducing a longevity income annuity to the plan menu is attractive for most DC plan participants who optimally commit 8-15% of their plan balances at age 65 to a LIA that starts paying out at age 85. Optimal annuitization boosts welfare by 5-20% of average retirement plan accruals at age 66 (assuming average mortality rates), compared to not having access to the LIA.
We also compare the optimal LIA allocation versus two default options that plan sponsors could implement. We conclude that an approach where a fixed fraction over a set threshold is invested in LIAs will be preferred by most to the status quo, while enhancing welfare for the majority of workers.
Discussant(s)
James Poterba
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sergio Urzua
, University of Maryland
JEL Classifications
- G1 - Asset Markets and Pricing
- H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies