A value-based assessment of alternative US state pension plans. (28th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: LEKNIŪTĖ, ZINA; BEETSMA, ROEL; PONDS, EDUARD
• Is Part Of: Journal of pension economics & finance. Volume 17:Number 2(2018:Apr.)
• Page Start: 129
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2016-10-28
• Subjects: G23, -- H60; US state civil servants pension funds, -- underfunding, -- value-based asset-liability management, -- contributions, -- benefits, -- (conditional) indexation, -- participants, -- tax payers; Pensions -- Finance -- Periodicals; Social security -- Finance -- Periodicals; 331.25205
• DOI: 10.1017/S1474747216000214
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-7472

Abstract

Abstract: We explore how the contract values of the various stakeholders of a typical US state civil servants pension fund are affected under the continuation of current policies and under alternative policies, such as changes in contribution, indexation and investment allocation policies. We find that all participant cohorts derive a substantial net benefit from the current pension contract, while all tax-paying cohorts make substantial contributions. The shift in value from tax payers to participants can be reduced substantially by having the latter make larger contributions or making indexation less generous. Under our baseline calibration, and continuation of existing policies, the chances are high that the fund's assets get depleted in the coming decades.